v  V. 


* 


STEPHEN  B0  WEEKS 

CLASS  OF  1686;  PH.D.  THE  JOHNS  HOPKINS  UNIVERSITY 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSiniY  OF  NflMI  CMUDONA 

TIE  WEEKS  COLLECTION 
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LUNC-5M  Je.36 
OP-12824 


van 


NUCHOH 


MEO 


A  CONFESSION  OF  FAITH, 

PUT  FORTH  BY  THE 

ELDERS  AND  BRETHREN 

OF 
MANY  CONGREGATIONS  OF  CHRISTIANS, 

[Baptised  upon  profession  of  their  faith. 
IN  LONDON  AND  THE  COUNTRY, 


Adopted  by  the  Baptist  Association  of  Philadelphia.  Septt 
her  25,  1742,  and  by  the  Charleston,  in  176~. 


FOURTH  CHARLESTON  EDITION 

To  tchich  u  added — an  Article  on  singing  Psalais 
in  Public  Worshi?). 


With  the  heart  man  believeth  unto   righteousness,   ami  wit;k 
lb*  mouth  confession  is  made  unto  salvation. — Romans  x.  26. 
Search  the  scriptures. — John  v.  39. 


RALEIGH,  N.C.r 

?&V*TA&  SY  3-  TEMPLE, — -AT  THE  PRIMITIVE  BAPTIST  oiYTCfc- 

1850. 


We,  the  Ministers  and  Messengers  of,  and  concern- 
ed for,  upwards  of  one  hundred  baptized  congregations 
in  England  and  Wales  (denying  Arminianism)  being 
met  together  in  London  from  the  third  of  the  seventh 
month,  til!  the  eleventh  of  the  same,  1689,  to  consider 
o:  some  things  that  might  be  for  the  glory  of  God,  and 
the  good  of  these  Congregations  ;  have  thought  meet 
(for  the  satisfaction  of  all  other  Christians  that  differ 
from  us  in  the  point  of  baptism)  to  recommend  to  their 
perusal  the  Confession  of  our  Faith  ;  printed  for  and 
sold  by  John  Marshall,  at  the  Bible  in  Grace-Church 
Street.  Which  Confession  we  own,  as  containing  the 
doctrine  of  our  faith  and  practice;  and  do  desire  that 
the  members  of  our  churches  respectively  do  furnish 
themselves  therewith. 


Hanserd  Knollye,  ' 
William  Kiffin, 
7ohn  Harris, 
William  Collins, 
Heicules  Collins, 
Robert  Steed, 
Leonard  Harrison, 
George  Barret, 
Isacc  Lamb, 
Richard  Adams. 
Benjamin  Keacb, 
Andrew  GrifTord, 
Thomas  Vaux, 
Thomas  Winnel, 
James  Hilt, 
Richard  Tidmarsh, 
William  Facy, 
Samual  Buttal, 
Christopher  Price, 


Daniel  Finch, 
John  Ball, 
Edmond  White.; 
William  Pricbard. 
Paul  Fruin, 
Richard  Ring, 
John  TomkinSj 
Toby  Willis, 
John  Carter, 
James  Webb, 
Richard  Sutton, 
Robert  Knight, 
Edward  Price, 
Wiliam  Phips, 
William  Hankins; 
Samuel  Ewer, 
Edward  Man, 
Charles  Archer. 


In  ihe  name  and  behalf  of  the  whole  Assembly. 


TO  THE  JUDICIOUS 


AND 


IMMtmiL  IMBEft 


It  is  now  many  years  since  divers  of  us  (with  other 
sober  Christians  then  living,  and  walking  in  the  way 
of  the  Lord  that  we  profess")  did  conceive  ourselves 
to  be  under  a  necessity  of  publishing  a  Confession 
of  our  Faith,  for  the  information  and  satisfaction  of 
those,  that  did  not  thoroughly  understand  what  our 
principles  were,  or  had  entertained  prejudices  .. 
gainst  our  profession,  by  reason  of  the  strange  rep- 
resentation of  them,  by  some  men  of  note  who 
had  taken  very  wrong  measures,  and  accordingly 
led  others  into  misapprehension  of  us,  and  them. — 
And  this  was  put  forth  about  the  year  1643,  in  the 
names  of  seven  congregations  then  gathered  in  Lon- 
don ;  since  which  time,  divers  impressions  therof 
have  been  dispersed  abroad,  and  our  end  proposed, 
in  good  measures  answered,  inasmuch  as  many  (and 
some  of  those  men  eminent  both  for  piety  and  learn- 
ing) were  thereby  satisfied,  that  we  were  no  way 
guilty  of  those  heterodoxies  and  fundamental  errors 
which  had  too  frequently  been  charged  upon  us  with- 
out ground,  or  occasion  given  on  our  part.  And 
forasmuch,  as  that  Confession  is  not  now  commonly 
to  be  had,  and  also  that  many  others  have  since  em- 
braced the  same  truth  which  is  owned  therein,  it 
was  judged  necessary  by  us  to  join  togther  in  giv- 
ing  a  testimony  to  the  world,   of  our  firm  adhering 


IV 


lose  wholesome  principles.,  by  the  publication- of 
ibis  which  is  now  in  your  hand. 

And  forasmuch  as  our  method  and  manner  of  ex- 
pressing our  sentiments,  in  this,. doth  vary  from  the 
former  (although  the  substance  of  this  matter  is  the 
same)  we  shailfre'ely  impart  to  you  the  reason  and 
occasion  thereof.  One  thing  that  greatly  prevailed 
with  as  to  undertake  this  work  was  (not  only  to  give- 
a  full  account  of  ourselves  to  those  Christians  that 
differ  from  us  about  the  subject  ot  baptism,  hut  also) 
the  profit  that  might  from  thence  arise,  unto  those 
that  have  any  account  of  our  labors,  in  their  instruc. 
lion  and  establishment  in  the  great  truths  of  the  Gos- 
pel; in  the  clear  understanding,  and  steady  belief  of 
which  our  comfortable  walking  with  God,  and  fruit-. 
fulness  before  him,  in  all  our  ways,  is  most  nearly 
concerned  ;  and  therefore  we  did  conclude  it  neces- 
to  express  ourselves  the  more  fully  and  distinct- 
!y  :  and  also  to  fix  on  such  a  method  as  might  be- 
most  comprehensive  of  those  things  we  designed  to 
explain  our  sense  and  belief  of;  and  finding  no  de-~ 
in  this  regard,  in  that  fixed  on  by  the  assembly, 
and  after  them,  by  those  of  the  congregational  way, 
we  did  readily  conclude  it  best  to  retain  the  same 
order  in  our  present  Confession  ;  and  also  when  we 
observed,  that  those  last-mentioned,  did  in  their  con- 
fessions (for  reasons  which  seemed  of  weight  both 
to  themselves  and  oihersjehoose  not  only  to  express 
heir  mind  in  words  concurrent  with  the  former  in 
sense,  concerning  all  those  articles  wherein  they 
were  agreed,  but  also  fir  the  most  part,  without  any 
variation  of  the  terms,  we  did  in  like  manner  con, 
dude  it  best  to  follow  their  example,  in  making  uso 
<>f  the  very  same  words  with  them  both,  in  these  ar- 
tides  (which  are  very  many)  wherein  onr  faith  and 
doctriue  i«  the  same  with  theirs,  and  this  we  did  the 


V 


more,  abundantly,  to  manifest  our  consent  with  both, 
in  alt  the  fundamental  articles  of  the  Christian  reli- 
gion, as  also  with  many  others,  whose  orthodox  con- 
fessions have  been  published  to  the  world,  on  behalf 
of  the  Protestants  in  divers  nations  and  cities  :  And 
also  to  convince  all,  that  we  have  no  itch  to  clog 
Keligion  with  new  words,  but  do  readily  acquiesce 
in  that  form  of  sound  words,  which  hath  been  in  con- 
sent with  the  Holy  Scriptures,  used  by  others  be- 
fore us  ;  hereby  declaring  before  God,  angels,  and 
men,  our  hearty  agreement  with  them,  in  that  whole- 
some Protestant  Doctrine,  which  with  so  clear  evi- 
dence of  scripture  they  have  asserted  :  Some  things 
indeed,  are  in  some  places  added,  some  terms  omit- 
ted, and  some  few  changed  ,  but  these  alterations 
are  of  that  nature,  as  that  we  need  not  doubt,  any 
charge  or  suspicion  of  unsoundness  in  the  faith,  Horn 
any  of  our  brethren  upon  the  account  of  them. 

In  those  things  wherein  we  differ  from  others,  we 
have  expressed  ourselves  with  all  candour  and  plain- 
ness, that  nofle  might  entertain  jealousy  of  ought  se- 
cretly lodged  in  our  breasts,  that  we  would  not  the 
world  should  be  acquainted  with  ;  yet  we  hope  we 
have  also  observed  those  rules  of  modesty  and  humil- 
ity, as  will  render  our  freedom  in  this  respect  inoffen- 
sive, even  to  those  whose  sentiments  are  different 
from  ours. 

We  have  also  taken  care  to  affix  texts  of  scripture 
at  the  bottom,  for  the  confirmation  of  each  article  in 
our  confession  in  which  uork  we  have  studious])'  en- 
deavored to  select  such  as  are  most  clear  and  per- 
tinent,  for  the  proof  of  what  is  asserted  by  us.  And 
our  earnest  desire  is,  that  all  into  whose  hands  this 
may  come,  would  follow  that  (never  enough  com- 
manded)  example  of  the  noble  Bereans,  who  search- 


¥r 


ed  the  scriptures  d&Wy  that  they  might  find  out  wheth- 
er the  things  preached  to  them  were  so  or  not. 

There  is  one  thing  more  which  we  sincerely  pre 
fess?  and  earnestly  desire  credence  in*  viz  :  That 
contention  is  most  remote  from  our  design  in  all  that 
we  have  done  in  this  matter  :  And  we  hope,  the  liber- 
ty cfan  ingenuous  unfolding  our  principles,  and  open- 
ing our  hearts  unto  our  brethren,  with  the  scripture- 
grounds  of  our  faith,  and  practice  will  by  none  of  them 
be  either  denied  to  us, or  taken  ill  from  us.  Our  whole 
design  is  accomplished  if  we  may  obtain  that  justice, 
as  fo  be  measured  in  cur  principles  and  practice, 
and  the  judgment  of  both  by  others,  according  to 
what  we  have  now  published  ;  which  the  LorrJ 
\  whose  eyes  are  a  flame  of  fire)  knoweth  to  be  the 
doctrine,  which  with  our  hearts  we  most  firmly  be- 
lieve, and  sincerely  endeavor  to  conform  our  livs^s 
to.  And  oh  !  that  other  contentions  being  laid  a- 
p,  the  only  care  and  contention  of  all,  upon  whom 
the  name  of  our  blessed  redeemer  is  called,  might 
tor  the  future  be,  to  walk  humbly  with  their  God,  in 
the  ex^ercise  of  all  love  and  meekness  towards  each 
other;  to  perfect  holiness  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord, 
each  one  endeavoring  to  have  his  conversation  such 
as  be  comet  h  the  gospel  ;  and  also  suitable  to  his 
[  luce  and  capacity,  vigorously  to  promote  in  others, 
the  practice  of  true  religion,  and  ulidefiled  in  the 
sight  of  God  our  Father.  And  that  in  this  back-sli- 
ding day,  we  might  not  spend  our  breath  in  fruitless 
complaints  of  the  evils  of  others,  but  may  every  one 
begin  at  home,  to  reform  in  the  first  place  our  own 
hearts  and  ways,  and  then  to  quicken  all,  that  we  may 
have  influence  upon,  to  the  same  work  ;  that  if  the 
will  of  God  were  so,  none  might  decieve  themselves 
by  resting  in,  and  trusting  to  a  form  of  godliness, 
without  the  power  of  it,   and  inward   experience    of 


VII 


the  efficacy  of  those  truths  that  are    professed  by 
them. 

And  verily  there  is  one  spring  and  cause  of  th* 
decay  of  religion  in  ourday,  which  we  cannot  but 
touch  upon,  and  earnestly  urge  a  redress  of:  and 
that  is  the  neglect  of  the  worship  of  God  in  families, 
by  those  to  whom  the  charge  and  conduct  of  them  is 
committed.  May  not  the  gross  ignorance  and  in- 
stability of  many,  with  the  profaneness  of  others,  be 
justly  charged  upon  their  parents  and  masters,  who 
have  not  trained  them  up  in  the  way  wherein  they 
ought  to  walk  when  they  were  young  :  But  have 
neglected  those  frequent  and  solemn  commands 
which  the  Lord  hath  laid  upon  them  so  to  catechise 
and  instruct  them,  that  their  tender  years  might 
be  seasoned  with  the  knowledge  of  the  truth  of' 
as  revealed  ra  the  scriptures  ;  and  also  by  their  own 
omission  of  prayer,  and  othpr  duties  of  religion  in 
their  families,  together  with  the  ill  example  of  their 
loose  conversation,  bave  inured  them  first  to  a  neg- 
lect,  and  then  contempt  of  all  piety  and  religion. — 
We  know  this  will  not  excuse  the  blindness  ancl 
wickedness  of  any  ;  but  certainly  it  will  fall  heavy 
upon  those  that  have  been  thus  the  occasion  there- 
of; they  indeed  die  in  their  sins,  but  will  not  their 
blood  be  required  of  those  under  whose  care  they 
were,  who  yet  permitted  them  to  go  on  without  warn- 
ing, yea- led  them  into  the  paths  of  destruction  ?  and 
will  not  the  diligence  of  christians,  with  respect  to 
the  discharge  of  these  duties,  in  ages  past,  rise  up 
in  judgment  against,  and  cendemn  many  of  those 
who  would  be  esteemed  such  now? 

We  shall  conclude  with  our  earnest  prayer,  that 
the  God  of  all  grace,  will  pour  out  those  measures 
of  his  holy  spirit  upon  us,  that  the  profession  of  truth 
may  be  accompanied  with  the  sound  belief,  and   dili- 


VIEI 


geni  practice  of  it  by  us,  that  his  name   may    in    all 
ihings  be  glorified,  through  Jesus  Christ  our    LordL 


A  CONFESSION  OF  FAITH. 


CHAPTER  I, 
Of  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

The  Holy  scripture  is  the  only  sufficient,  cer- 
tain, and  infallible  a  rule  of  all  paving  knowledge, 
faith,  and  obedience  ;  although  the£  light  of  nature, 
and  the  works  of  creation  and  providence  do  so  far 
manifest  the  goodness,  wisdom  and  power  of  God,  as 
to  leave  men  unexcusable;  yet  are  they  not  sufficient 
to  give  that  knowledge  of  God  ^ind  his  will,  which 
is  necessary  unio  salvation. c  Therefore  it  pleased 
the  Lord  at  sundry  times,  and  in  divers  mannerst 
to  reveal  himself, and  to  declare  that  his  will  unto 
his  church:  and  afterward  for  the  better  preserving 
and  propagating  of  the  truth,  and  for  the  more  sure 
establishment,  and  comfort  of  the  church  against  the 
corruption  of  the  flesh,  and  the  malace  of  satan,  and 
of  the  world,  to  commit  the  same  wholly  unto  d  wri- 
tings which  maketh  the  holy  scriptures  to  be  most 
necessary,  those  former  ways  of  God's  revealing 
Lis  will  unto  his  people  being  now  ceased. 

2.  Under  the  name  of  Holy  Scripture,  or  the 
word  of  God  written,  are  now  contained  all  the 
books  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  which  are 
these  ; 

a  2  Timothy  iii  15,  16,  17.     Isaiah    viii  20   Luke    xvi  23 

31     Ephesians  ii  20.     b  Romans  i  19,  20.   21,    ii     14,  15 

Psalms  xix  1,2,3.     cHebrews  i,  1  d  Proverbs  xxii  19,  20,  21 
Romans  xv  4  2  Peter  i  19.20 


10 


O?  THE  OLD     TESTAMENT. 

Genesis,  Exodus,  Leviticus,  Numbers*  Deuteron- 
omy, Joshua,  Judges,  Ruth,  1  Samuel,  2  Samuel, 
1  Kings,  2  Kings,  1  Chronicles,  2  Chronicles,  Ez- 
ra, Nehemiah,  Esther,  Job,  Psalms,  Proverbs,  Ecle- 
siastes,  The  Song  of  Songs,  Isaiah,  Jeremiah,  La- 
mentations, Ezekiel,  Daniel,  Hosea,  Joel,  Amos, 
Ohadiah,  Jonah,  Micah,  Nabum*  Habakkuk,  Zepha-- 
iiiah,  Haggai  Zachariah,  Malachi. 

OF  THE    MEW  TESTAMENT. 

Matthew,  Mark,  Luke,  John,  The  Acts  of  the 
Apostles,  Paul's  Epistle  to  the  Romans,  I  Corinthi- 
ans, 2  Corinthians,  Galatiahs,  Ephesians,  Philippi- 
ans,  Collossians,  1  Tfeessaloniaus  2  Thessnlonians, 
1  Timothy,  2  Timothy,  to  Titus,  to  Philemon,  the. 
Epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  the  Epistle  of  James,  the 
first  and  second  Epistles  of  Peter,  the  first,  second 
and  third  Epistles  of  John,  the  Epistle  of  Jude,  the 
Revelation.  All  of  which  are  given  by  the  e  inspi- 
ration of  God,  to  be  the  rule  of  faith  and  life. 

3.  The  books  commonly  called  Apocrypha,  not 
being  off  divine  inspiration,  are  not  part  of  the  can- 
non (or  rule)  of  scripture,  and  therefore  are  of  no 
authority  to  the  church  of  God,  nor  to  be  any  oth- 
erwise approved,  or  made  use  of  than  other  human 
writings. 

4.  The  authority  of  the  holy  scripture,  for 
which  it  ought  to  be  believed,  dependeth  not  upon 
the  testimony  of  any  man,  or  church,  but  wholly  up- 
on g  God,  (who  is  truth  itself )  the  author  thereof; 
therefore  it  is  to  be  received,  because  it  is  the  word 
of  God. 

e  2  Timothy  iii  16/  Luke  xxiv  27,  4-i  Romans  iii  2 
g  '2  Peter  i  19.  20.21  2  Timothy  iii  16  2  Thefsalonians  ii 
13  1   John  v  fJ 


11 


5.  We  may  be  moved  and  induced  by  the  testimony 
of  the  church  of  God,  to  an  high  and  reverent  es- 
teem of  the  holy  scriptures;  and  the  beavenliness 
of  the  matter,  the  efficacy  of  the  doctrine,  and  the 
majesty  of  the  stile,  the  consent  of  all  the  parts,  the 
scope  oft  he  whole, (which  is  to  give  ali  glory  to  God) 
the  full  discovery  it  makes  of  the  only  way  of  man's 
salvation,  and  many  other  incomparable  exeellen. 
cies.  and  infire  perfections  thereof,  are  arguments 
whereby  it  doth  abunbantlv  evidence  itself  to  be  the 
word  of  God;  yet  notwithstanding  our  h  full,  persua- 
sion, and  assurance  of  the  infallible  truih.  and  divine 
authority  thereof,  as  from,  the  inward  work  of  ihe- 
holy  spirit,  bearing  winess  by  and  wiih  the  word  in 
our  heaits. 

6.  The  whole  counsel  of  God  concerning  allthings  i 
necessary  tor  his  own  glory,  man's  salvation,  iai;h 
and  life,  is  either  expressly  set  down^or  necessari- 
ly, contained  in  the  Holy  Scripture';  unto  which- 
nothing  at  any  time  is  to  be  added,  whether  by- 
new  revejaiiou  of  the  spirit,  or  traditions  of  men. 

Nevertheless  we   acknowledge  the  k     inward  illu- 
mination of  the  spirit  of  God,    lo  be  necessary    lor 
the  saving  understanding  of  such  things    as  are  re- 

t?  ry  o 

vealed  in  the  word,  and  that  there  are  some  circum- 
stances concerning  the  worship  of  God,  and  gov- 
irnment  of  the  church. common  to  human  actions  and 
societies  ;  which  are  to  be/  ordered  by  the  light  of  na  - 
ture,  and  christian  prudence,  according  to  the  gene  r-. 
a!  rules  of  the  word. which  are  always  to  be  observed. 
7.  All  things  in  scriptures  are  not  alike  m  plain 
in  themselves,  nor     alike  clear    unto  ail ;  yet  those 

/John  xvi  13,  34.  1  Corinthians  ii  10.  11,  12.  1  John  i  % 
•20.-21  i  2  Timothy  iii  15,  16,17  Galatiaus  i  8,  9  feJohu 
vl  15  1  Corinthians  ii  9,  10,  11,  12  I  1  Corinthians  xi  13,. 
U     xiv  26,  40.     m 2  Peter  iii   16 


12 


things  which  are  necessary  to  be.  known,  believed, 
and  observed  for  salvation,  are  son  clearly  propoun- 
ded and  opened  in  some  place  of  Scripture  or  other, 
that  not  only  the  learned,  but  the  unlearned,  in  a 
due  use  of  ordinary  means,  may  attain  to  a  sufficient 
understanding  of  tnem. 

3  The  Old  Testament  in  o  Hebrew,.^  which  was 
the  native  language  of  the  people  of  God  of  old)  and 
the  New  Testament  in  Greek,  which  (at  the  time  of 
writing  it)  was  most  generally  known  to  the  nations, 
being  immediately  inspired  by  God,  and  by  his  sin- 
gular care  and  providence  kept  pure  in  all  ages,  are 
therefore  p  authentical  ;  so  as  in  all  controversies 
ef  religion,  the  church  is  finally  to  appeal  unto 
them. ^  But  because  these  original  tongues  are 
not  known  to  all  the  people  of  God,  who  have  a  right 
nntp,  and  an  interest  in  the  scriptures,  and  are  com- 
manded in  the  fear  of  God  to  read  r  and  search 
them,  therefore  the}'  are  to  be  translated  into  the 
vulgar  language  of  every  nation,  unto  which  they  s 
come,  that  the  word  of  God  dwelling?  plentifully  in 
all,  they  may  worship  him  in  an  acceptable  manner, 
and  through  patience  and  comfort  of  the  scriptures 
may  hope. 

9.  The  infallible  rule  or  interpretation  of  the  scrip- 
'K.re  u  is  the  scripture  itself:  And  therefore  when 
there  is  a  question  about  the  true  and  full  sense  of 
any -scripture,  (  which  is  not  manifold  but  one  )  it 
must  be  searched  by  other  places,  that  speak  more 
clearly. 

10.  The  supreme  Judge  by  which  all  controver- 
sies of  religion  are  to  be  determined,  and  all  decrees 

n  Psalms  xix  7  cx\r.  130  o  Romans  iii  2  p  Isaiah  viii 
20  q  Acts  xv  15  rJohnv  39  si  Corinthians  xiv  6,  9,11, 
12,  24,  28  t  Colossiaus  iii  16  w  2  Peter  i  20,  21  Acts  xv 
15,  16. 


13 


of  councils,  opinions  of  ancient  writers,  doctrines 
of  men,  and  private  spirits  are  to  be  examined,  and  in 
whose  sentence  we  are  to  rest,  can  be  no  other  but 
ihe  holy  scriptures  delivered  by  the  Spirit,-  into 
which  £  scripture  so  delivered,  cur  faith  is  finally 
resolved. 


chapter  ii — Of  God  and  of  the  Holy  Trinity.. 

1.  The  Lord  our  God  is  but  a  one  only  Jiving, 
and  true  God  ;  whose  b  subsistence  is  in  and  of 
himself,  c  infinite  in  being,  and  perfection,  whose 
essence  cannot  be  comprehended  by  any  but  him- 
sell  ;d  a  most  pure  spirit  e  invisible  without  bod>\ 
parts,  or  passions,  who  only  hath  immortality 
dwelling  in  the  light  which  no  man  can  approach, 
untCj  who  is  f  immutable,  g  immense,  A  eternal, 
incomprehensible, i  almighty,  every  way  infinite,  A. 
most  holy,  most  wise,  most  free,  most  absolute,  I 
working  all  things  according  tG  the  counsel  of  his 
own  immutable  and  most  righteous  will,  in  for  his 
own  glory,  most  loving,  gracious,  merciful,  long  suf- 
fering, abundant  in  goodness  in  truth,  forgiving 
iniquity,  transgression  and  sin,  n  the  rewarder  of 
them  that  diligently  seek  him,  and  withal  most  just.o 
and  terrible  in  his  judgements,  p  hating  ail  sin.  and 
will  by  no  means  clear  the  q  guilty. 

xMathew  xxli  29,  23  Ephesians  ii  20  Acts  xxviii  23 
o  1  Corinthians  viii  6  Deuteronomy  vi  4  b  Jeremiah  x  10 
Isaiah  xlviii  12  cExodus  ii:  14  CiJohu  iv  24  el  Timothy 
i  17  Deuteronomy  iv  15,  16  /  Malachi  iii  6  g  1  King* 
viii  27  Jeremiah  xxiii  23  h  Psalms  xc  2  i  Genesis  xvii  1 
k  Isaiah  vi  3  I  Psaims  cxv  3  Isaiah  xlvi  10  m  Proverbs 
xvi  4  Romans  xi  36  n  Exodus  xxxiv  6,7  Hebrews  xi  6  oNe- 
heraiahix  32,  33  p  Psalms  v  5,  6  q  Exodus  xxxvi  7  Na- 
Lum  i  2,  3. 


u 


2.  God  having  all  r  life,*  glory, Y  goodness,  bless- 
edness, in  and  of  himse]f,  is  alone  in,  and  unto  him- 
self all  sufficient,  not  «  standing  in  any  need  of  any 
creature  which  he  hath  made,  nor  deriving  any  glo- 
ry from  them,  but  only  manifesting  his  own  glory  in, 
by,  unto,  and  upon  them,  he  is  the  alone  fountain  of 
all  being,  x  of  whom,  through  whom,  and  to  whom 
are  all  things,  and  he  hath  most  sovereign  y  domin- 
ion over  all  creatures,  to  do  by  them,  for  them,  or 
upon  them,  whatsoever  himself  pleaseth  :  in  his 
sight  %  all  things  are  open  and  manifest,  his  knowl- 
edge is  a  infinite,  infallible,  and  independant  up- 
on the  creature,  so  as  nothing  is  to  him  contingent 
or  uncertain  ;  he  is  most  holy  in  all  his  counsels, 
in  b  all  his  works,  and  in  all  his  commands  ;  to  him 
is  due  c  from  men  and  angels,  whatsoever  worship, 
service  or  obedience,  as  creatures  they  owe  unto  the 
Creator,  and  whatever  he  is  further  pleased  to  re- 
quire of  them. 

3.  In  this  divine  and  infinite  being  there  are 
three  subsistences,  d  the  Father,  the  word  (or  Son) 
and  Holy  Spirit,  of  one  substance,  power  and  etern- 
ity, each  having  the  whole  divine  essence,  e  yet  the 
essence  undivided  :  the  father  is  one  of  neither  be- 
gotten, nor  proceeding,  the  Son  is  f  eternally  be- 
gotten of  the  Father,  the  Holy  Spirit  g  proceed- 
ing from  the  Father  and  the  Son,  all  infinite,  with- 
out beginning,  therefore  but  one  God,  who  is  not  to 
be  divided  in  nature  and  being,  but  distinguished  by 

rJohnv26  5  Psalms  cxlviii  13  ZPsalms  cxix  68  uJob  xxii 
2,3  x  Romans  xi  34,  25  36  y  Daniel  iv  25,  34,  35  z  He- 
brews iv  13  aEzekiel  vi  5  Acts  xv  18  b  Psalms  cxiv  17 
c  Revelation  v  12,  13,  14  d\  John  v  7  Mathew  xxviii  19 
2  Corinthians  xiii  14  eExodus  iii  14  Johnxivll  1  Cor- 
inthians viii  6  /John  i  14,  18  ^Johnxv  26  Galatians 
iv  6. 


15 


several  peculiar,  relative  properties,  and  personal 
relations  ;  which  doctrine  of  (he  Trinity  is  the  foun- 
dation of  all  our  communion  with  God,  and  comfort- 
able  decendance  on  him. 


chapter  in. — Of  God's  Decree. 

1.  God  hath  a  decreed  in  himself,  from  -all  eter- 
nity, by  the  most  wise  and  holy  counsel  of  his  own 
will,  freely  and  unchangably,  all  things  whatsoever 
comes  to  pass  ;  yet  so  as  thereby  is  God  neither  the  * 
author  of  sin,  b  nor  hath  fellowship  with  any  there- 
in,  nor  is  violence  offered  to  the  will  of  the  creature, 
nor  yet  is  the  liberty,  or  contingency  of  second 
causes  taken  away,  but  rather  c  established,  in 
which  appears  his  wisdom  in  disposing  all  things 
and  power,  and  faithfulness  Jin  accomplishing  hi* 
decree. 

2.  Although  God  knoweth  whatsoever  may  or  can 
come  to  pass  upon  all  e  supposed  conditions  ;  yet 
hath  he  not  decreed  anything,y*because  he  foresaw 
it  as  future,  or  as  that  which  would  come  to  pass  up- 
on such  conditions. 

8.  By  the  decree  of  God,  fbrthe  manifestation  of 
his  glory  g  some  men  and  angels  are  predestinated 
or  foreordained  to  eternal  life,  through  Jesus  Christ, 
to  the  h  praise  of  his  glorious  grace  :  others  being 
left  to  act  in  their  sin  to  their  i  just  condemnation, 
to  the  praise  of  his  glorious  justice. 

a  Isiahxlvi  10  Ephesians  i  II  Hebrews  vi  17  Romans 
ix  15,  18  b  James  i  15,  17  1  John  i  5  c  Acts  iv  27,  23 
John  xix  11  d  Numbers  xxiii  19  Ephesiansi  3,  4,  5,e  Act3 
xv  18  /Romans  ix  11,  13,  16,  18  g  1  Timothy  v  21 
Matthew  xxv  41  A  Ephesians  i  5,  6i  Romans  ix  22,  23 
Jude  4*2  Timothy  ii  19  John  xiii  IS 


16 


4.  These  angels  and  men  thus  predestinated,  and 
foreordained,  are  particular]/,  and  unchangeably  de- 
signed :  and  their  k  number  so  certain,  and  definite, 
that  it  cannot  be  either  increased,  or  diminished. 

5.  Those  of  mankind  I  that  are  predestinated  to 
life,  God  before  the  fourfdation  of  the  world  was  Jaid, 
according  to  his  eternal  immutable  purpose,  and  the 
secret  counsel  and  good  pleasure  of  his  will,  hath 
chosen  in  Christ  unto  everlasting  glory,  out  of  his 
mere  free  grace  and  love  ;  m  without  any  other  thing 
in  the  creature  as  a  conditon  or  cause  moving  him 
thereunto. 

6.  As  God  hath  appointed  the  elect  unto  glory,  so 
he  hath  by  the  eternal  and  most  free  purpose  of  his 
will,  foreordained,  n  all  the  means  thereunto,  where- 
fore  they  who  are  elected,  being  fallen  in  Adam,o  are 
redeemed  by  Christ,  are  effectually  p  called  unto 
faith  in  Christ,  by  his  Spirit  working  in  due  season, 
are  justified,  adopted,  sanctified,  and  kept  by  his 
power  through  faith  q  unto  salvation;  neither  are 
any  other  redeemed  by  Christ,  or  effectually  called, 
justified,  adopted,  sanctified,  and  saved,  but  the  elect 
r  only. 

7.  The  doctrine  of  this  high  mystery  of  predesti- 
nationj  is  to  be  handled  with  special  prudence  and 
care  ;  that  man,  attending  the  will  of  God  revealed 
in  his  word,  and  yielding  obedience  thereunto,  may 
from  the  certainty  of  their  effectual  vocation,  be  as- 
sured of  their  s  eternal  election  ;  so  shall  this  doc- 
trine afford  matter  t  of  praise,  reverence,  and   admi- 

l  Ephesiaus  i  4,  3,  11  Romans  viii  30  2  Timothy  i  9 
1  Thessalonians  v  9  m  Romans  ix  13  16.  Epliesians  ii  9,  12 
n  1  Peter  i  2  2  Thessalonians  ii  13  o  1  Thessalonians  v  9,  10 
p  Romans  viii  30  2  Thessalonians  ii  13  q  2  Peter  i  3  r  John 
x  26  John  xvii  9  John  vi  44  *  1  Thessalonians  i  4,  5  2 
Peter  i  10     t  Ephesjans  i  6  Romans  xi  33 


ration  of  God  ,and  u  of  humility,  diligence,  and  abun- 
dant x  consolation,  to  all  thai  sincerely  obey  •■-> 
gusgeL 


chapter  iv. — Of  Creation, 

I".  In  the  beginning  it  pleased  God,  the  Father,  a 
Son  and  Holy  Spirit,  for  the  manifestation  of  the 
glory  of  b  his  eternal  power,  wisdom,  and  goodness, 
Jo  create  or  make  the  world,  and  all  things  therein 
«r  whether  visible,  or  invisble,  in  the  space  of  six 
days,  and  all  very  good. 

2.  After  God  had  made  all  other  creatures,  he 
created  d  man,  male,  and  female,  with  e  reasonable 
and  immortal  souls,  rendering  them  fit  unto  that  life 
to  God,  for  which  they  were  created,  he'mgj  made 
after  the  image  of  God,  in  knowledge,  righteous;!-:^, 
and  true  holiness  ;  having  the  law  of  God  g  written 
in  their  hearts,  and  power  to  fulfil  it ;  and  yet  under 
a.  possibility  of  transgressing,  being  left  to  the  liber- 
ty of  their  own  will,  which  was  h  subject  to  change. 

3.  Besides  the  law  written  in  their  hearts  they 
received  i  a  command  not  to  eat  of  the  tree  of  knowl- 
edge of  good  and  evil  r  which  whilst  they  kept,  they 
were  happy  in  their  communion  with  God,  and  had 
dominion  k  over  the  creatures. 


a  Romans  si  5,6  i  Luke  x  20 

'?Johnil,5  Hebrews  i2  Job  xxvi  13  6  Romans  i  28 
c  Colossians  i  16  Genesis  ii  1,2  d  Gensis  i  27  e  Gene- 
sis ii  7  /Ecclesiastes  vii  29  Genesis  i  28  g  Romam  ii 
14,  15 

A  Genesis  iii  6  i  Genesis  i  17,  andlii9.  9,  10  &  Genera 
i  -26.  28. 

O 


18 


chapter  v. — Of  divine  -providence. 

1.  God  the  good  creator  of  all  things,  in  his  infi- 
nite power  and  wisdom,  doth  a  uphold,  direct,  dis- 
pose, and  govern  all  creatures,  and  things,  from  the 
greatest  even  to  the  b  least,  by  his  most  wise  and 
holy  providence  to  the  end  for  which  they  were 
created  according  unto  his  infalible  fore-knowledge 
and  the  free  and  immutable  counsel  of  his  c  own 
will  ;  to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  his  wisdom,  power? 
justice,  infinite  goodness  and  mercy. 

2.  Although  in  relation  to  the  tore -knowledge  and 
decree  of  God,  the  first  cause,  all  things  come  to 
pass  d  immutably  and  infallibly;  so  that  there  is 
not  any  thing  befalls  any  e  by  chance  or  without  his 
providence;  yet  by  the  same  providence  he  order- 
elh  them  to  fall  out  according  to  the  nature  of  sec- 
ond causes,  either f  necessarily,  freely,  or  contin- 
gently. 

3.  God  in  his  ordinary  Providence  g  maketh  use 
of  means  :  yet  is  free  h  to  work  without,  i  above, 
and  Jc  against  them  at  his  pleasure. 

4.  The  Almighty  power,  unsearchable  wisdom, 
and  infinite  goodness  of  God,  so  far  manifest  them- 
selves in  his  providence,  that  his  determinate  coun- 
se  1  I  extendeth  itself  even  to  the  first  fall,  and  all  oth- 
er sinful  actions  both  of  angels  and  men;  (and  that 
not  by  a  bare  permission)  which  also  he  most  wise- 

i  Hebrews  i  3  Job  xxxviii  11  Isaiah  xlvi  10,  11 
Psalms  xiii  5,6  b  Matthew  x  26,30,  31  c  Ephesians 
i  11  d  Acts  ii  23  e  Proverbs  xvi  33  /  Genesis  viii  22 

g-Actsxxvii  31,  44  Isaiah  Iv  10,  11  h  Hosea  i  7 
i  Romans  iv  19,  20,  21  k  Diniel  iii  27  I  Romans 
xi  32  33,  34     2  Samuel  xxiv   1     .1  Chronicles  xxi.l 


19 


Ty  and  powerfully  m  boundeth,  and  otherwise  order- 
eth,  and  governeth,  in  a  manifold  dispensation  to  his 
most  holy  n  ends  :  yet  so,  as  the  sinfulness  of  their 
acts  proceedeth  only  from  the  creatures,  and  not 
from  God;  who  being  most  holy  and  righteous,  nei- 
ther is  nor  can  be,  the  author  or  o  approver  of  sin. 

5.  The  most  wise,  righteous,  and  gracious  God, 
doth  oftentimes  leave  for  a  season  his  own  children 
lo  manifold  temptations,  and  the  corruptions,  of  their 
own  hearts,  to  chastise  them  for  their  former  sins, 
or  to  discover  unto  them  the  hiden  strenght  of  cor- 
ruption, and  deceitfulness  of  their  hearts,  p  that 
they  may  be  humbled  ;  and  to  raise  them  to  a  more 
close  and  constant  dependance  for  their  support  upon 
himself,  and  to  make  them  more  watchful  against 
all  future  occasions  of  sin,  and  for  other  just  and 
holy  ends. 

So  that  whatsoever  befalls  any  of  his  elect  is  by 
his  appointment,  for  his  glory,  q  and  their  good. 

G.  As  for  those  wicked  and  ungodly  men,  whom 
God  as  a  righteous  judge,  for  former  sin  doth  r 
blind  and  harden  :  from  them  he  not  only  withhold  - 
eth  his  s  grace,  whereby  they  might  have  been  en- 
lightened in  their  understanding,  and  wrought  upon 
in  their  hearts  ;  but  sometimes  also  withdraweth  1 
the  gifts  which  they  had,  and  exposeth  them  to  such 
u  objects  as  their  corruptions  make  occasion  of  sin  : 
and  withal,  x  gives  them  over  to  their  own  lusts,  and 

m  2  Kings  xix  28  Psalms  lxxvi  10  n  Genesis  i20 
[saiah  x  6,  7,  12  oPsalmsl21  John  ii  16  p  2 
Chronicles  xxxii  25,  26,  31  2  Samuel  xxiv  1  2  Co- 
rinthians xii  7,  8,  9     q  Romans  viii  28. 

r  Romans  i  24,  25,  28,  and  xi  7.  8  «  Deuteronomy 
xxix  4  t  Matthew  xiii  12  u  Deuteronomy  ii  30 
2  Kings  viii  12,13  ^Psalms  Ixx.xi  11,12  2  Thessalo- 
nians  ii  10  11. 


20 


tempatimis  of  tbe  world,  and  the  power  of  Satan 
whereby  it  coine3-to  pass,  that  they  y  harden  them- 
selves, even  under  those  means  which  God  useth  fov 
the  softening  of  others. 

7.  As  tbe  providence  of  God  doth  in  general 
reach  to  all  creatures,  so  after  a  more  special  man- 
ner, it  taketb -care  of  his  z  church,  and  disposeth  of 
ffl\  things  to  the  good  thereof.: 


chapter  n. — Of  the  Fall  of  Man,  of   Sin  and  of" 
the  Punishment  thereof. 

1.  Although  God  created  man  upright,  ami 
perfect,  and  give  him  a  righteous  law,  which  had 
been  unto  life  had  he  kept  it,  a  and  threatened  death 
upon  the  breach  thereof ;  yet  he  did  not  long  abide 
in  this  honor  ;  b  satan  using  the  subtility  of  the  ser- 
pent to  seduce  Eve,  then  by  her  seducting  Adam, 
who  without  any  compulsion,  did  wilfully  transgress 
the  law  of  of  their  creation,  and  the  command  given 
unto  them,  in  eating  the  forbidden  fruit  ;  which  God 
was  pleased  according  to  his  wise  and  hofy 
counsel  to  permit,  having  purpose  to  order  it,  to  his 
own  glory. 

2.  Our  first  parents  by  this  sin,  fell  from  their  c 
organal  righteousness  and  communion  with  God, 
and  we  in  them,  whereby  death  came    upon    all;    d 

yExodus  viii  r5,  32  Isaiah  vi  9,  10  1  Peter  ii  7,  b\ 
a  1  Timothy  iv  10.  Amos  ix  8,  9  Isaiah  xliii  3,  4,  5 
a  Genesis  ii  16,  17  b  Grnesis  iii  12,  13  2  Corin- 
thians  xi  3     c  Romans  iii  23     d  Roman3  /     12,    &c. 


2a 


sll  becoming  dead  in  sin,  and  wholly  defiled,e  in  all 
the  faculties  and  parts  of  soul  and  body. 

3.  They  being  the  f  root,  and  by  God's  appoint- 
ment,  standing  in  the  room,  and  stead  of  all  man- 
kind;  the  guilt  of  the  sin  was  imputed,  and  cor- 
rupted nature  conveyed  to  all  their  posterity,  des- 
cending from  them  by  ordinary  generation,  being 
now  g  conceived  in  sin,  and  by  nature  children  // 
of  wrath,  the  servants  of  sin,  the  subjects  i  of  death, 
and  all  other  miseries,  spiritual,  temporal  and  eter- 
nal,  unless  the  Lord  Jesus  k  set  them  free. 

4.  From  this  original  corruption,  whereby  we 
are  /  utterly  indisposed,  disabled,  and  made  oppo- 
site to  all  good,  and  wholly  inclined  to  all  evil,  do  m 
proceed  all  actual  transgressions. 

5.  This  corruption  of  nature,  during  this  life, 
doth  n  remain  in  those  that  are  regenerated  :  and 
although  it  be  through  Christ  pardoned,  and  mortifi- 
ed, yet  both  itself,  and  the  first  motions  thereof,  are 
truly  and  properly  o  sin. 


'chapter  vii.—O/-  GocVs  Covenant* 

1.     The  distance   between  God    pnd    the  creature 

is  5o   great    thai  although    reasonable    creatures    do 

e  Titos  i  \d  Gpnesis  vi  5  Jeremiah  xvii  9  Ro- 
mans u'i  10 — 19  /Romans  v  12 — 19  1  Corithians 
xv  21,  22,  45,  49  g  Psalms  li  5  Job  xiv  4  h  Ephe- 
>ians  ii  3  i  Romans  vi  20and  v  12  k  Hebrews  ii  14 
I  Thessalonians  i  10  I  Romans  vjji?  Colossiansi  21 
m  James  i  14,  15  Matthew  xv  19  "Romans  vii  1£. 
23  Ecelesiastes  vii  20  1  John  i  8  o  Romans  vii  24, 
2o  Galalians  v  17 


22: 


owe  obedience  unto-  him  as-  their  creator,  yet  they 
could  never  have  attained  the  reward  of1  life,  but  by 
some  a  voluntary  condescension  on  God's  part, 
which  he  hath  been  pleased  to  express,  by  way 
of  covenant. 

2.  Moreover,  man  having  brought  b  himself  un- 
der the  curse  of  the  law  by  his  tall,  it  pleased  the 
Lord  10  make  a  covenant  of  grace,  w>herein  he  free- 
ly offered  unto  sinners  c  life  and  salvation  by  Jesus 
Christ,  rrquiring  of  them  faith  in  him,  that  they 
may  be  saved  ;  and  d  promising  to  give  unto  all 
those  that  are  ordained  unto  eternat  life  his  Holy 
Spirit,  to  make  them  willing,  and  able  to  believe. 

3.  This  covenant  rs  revealed  in  the  gospel  ;  and 
was  first  of  all  to  Adam  in  the  promise  of  salva- 
tion by  the  e  soed  of  the  woman,  and  afterwards  by 
farther  steps,  until  the  full  f  discovery  thereof  was 
complete  in  the  New  Testament  ;  and  it  is  founded 
in  that  g  eternal  covenant  transaction,  that  was  be- 
tween the  Father  and  the  Son  about  the  redemp- 
tion of  the  elect  ;  and  it  is  alone  by  the  grace  of  this 
covenant,  that  all  of  the  posterity  of  fallen  Adam, 
that  ever  were  h  saved,  did  obtain  life  and  a  blessed 
immortality  ;  man  being  now  utterly  incapable  of 
acceptance  with  God  upon  those  terms  on  which 
Adam  stood  in  a  state  of  inuocency. 


a  Luke  xvii  10  Job  xxxv  7.  8  b  Genesi?  iii  17 
Galniions  iii  10  Roman?  iii  20,  21  c  Romans  viii  3 
Markxvi  15,  16  John  iii  16  tZEfcekiel  xxxvi  26,27 
John  vi  44.  45  Psalms  ex  3  e  Genesis  iii  1'5  /He- 
brews i  1     g  2  Timothy  i  2. 

h  Hebrews  xi  6.  13  Romans  iv  1.2.  &c.  Act? 
iv  12     John  viii  56. 


23 


chapter  viii.-* Of  Christ  the  Mediator. 

1 .  It  pleased  God,  in  his  eternal  purpose,  to  choose 
and  ordain  the  Lord  Jesus,  his  only  begotten  Son,  ac- 
cording to  the  covenant  made  between  them  both,  a 
to  beihe  mediator  between  God  and  man  ;  the  b  propri- 
ety priest  and  d  king,*  head  and  Saviour  of  his 
Church,  the  f  heir  of  all  things,  and  J  judge  of  the 
world:  unto  whom  he  did  from  all  eternity  e  give  a 
people  to  be  his  seed,  and  to  be  by  him  in  time  re- 
deemed, called,  justified,  sanctified,  and  glorified. 

2.  The  Son  of  God,  the  second  person  in  the  Holy 
Trinity,  being  very  and  eternel  God,  the  brightness  of 
the  Fathers  glorv,  of  one  substance,  and  equal  with 
him:  who  made  the  world,  who  upholdeth  and  gov- 
erned all  things  he  haih  made:  did,  when  the  ful- 
ness of  time  was  come,  take  upon  him/  man's  nature 
with  all  the  essential  properties,  and  common  innrmi- 
jes  thereof  g  yet  without  sin;  being  conceived  by  the 
Holy  Spirit  in  the  womb  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  the 
Holy  Spirit  coming  down  upon  her,  and  the  power  of 
the  Most  High  overshadowing  her  h  and  so  was  made 
of  a  woman,  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  of  the  seed  of  Abra 
ham  and  David,  according  to  the  Scriptures:  so  tha" 
two  whole,  perfect,  and  distinct  natures,  were  insepa 
rably  joined  together  in  one  person  without  conversion" 
composition,  or  confusion;  which  person  is  very  God' 
and  verv  man,  yet  one  i  Christ,  the  only  mediator  be- 
tween God  and  man. 

a  Isaiah  xlii  I  1  Peter  i  9,  10  b  John  vi  14  e  He- 
brews v  5,  6  ^Psalms  ii  6  Luke  i  33  *Ephesiansi  23 
f  Hebrews  i  2  JActs  xvii  31  e  Isaiah  liii  10  John 
xvii  6  Rom  viii  30  /John  i  14  Galatians  iv  4  ^Ro- 
mans viii  3  Heb.  ii  14,  16,  17  and  iv  15  h  Luke  i 
27,31,35    *Romansix5     1  Timothy  ii  5 


24 


3.  The  Lord  Jesus  in  his  human  nature  thus  uni- 
ted to  the  divine,  in  the  person  of  the  Son,  was  sancti- 
fied,  and  anointed  *•'  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  above  meas- 
ure; having  in  him  I  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and 
knowledge  ;  in  whom  it  pleased  the  Father,  that  m  nil 
fulness  should  dwell;  to  the  end,  that  being  n'hely, 
harmless,  undefiled,  and  full©  of  grace  and  truth,  he 
might  be  throughly  furnished  to  execute  the  officejof 
a  mediator,  and;)  surety;  which  office  he  took  not 
upon  himself,  but  was  thereunto  q  called  by  his  Fa- 
ther; who  also  put  r  all  power  and  judgement  in  his 
hand,  and  gave  him  commandment  to  execute  the 
same. 

4.  This  office  the  Lord  Jesus  did  most  s  willingly 
undertake;  which  thai  he  might  discharge  he  was 
made  under  the  law,  i  and  did  perfect fy  fulfil  it,  and 
underwent  the  a  punishment  due  to  us,  which  we 
should  have  borne  and  suffered  being  made  x  sin  and 
a  curse  for  us;  enduring  most  grievous  sorrows  y  in 
his  soul :  aud  most  painful  sufferings  in  his  body  ;  was 
crucified,  and  died,  and  remained  in  the  state  of  the 
dead:  yet  saw  no,  corruption  :  on  the  a  third  day  he 
arose  from  the  dead,  with  the  same  body  in  which  be 
sut7"ered  :b  with  which  he  also  e  ascenaVd  into  heaven 
and  thpre  sitteth  on  the  right  hand  of  his  Fnlher  d  ma- 
king intercession  :  and  shall  i  return  to  judge  men  and 
angels,  at  the  end  of  the  world. 

;\-  Psalms  xlv  7  Acts  x  38  John  iii  34  I  Colos- 
siansiiS  m  Colossians  i  19  n  Heb  vii  26  o  John  i 
1  4  v  Heb  vii  22  q  H»-b  v  5  r  John  v  22,  27  Mai- 
thew  xxviii  18  Acts  ii  36  *  Psalms  xl  7,  8  Heb  k 
5  — 11  John  x  18  t  Galations  iv  4  Mathew  iii  15 
m  Galatians  iii  13     Isaiah  liii  6      1  Peter  iii  18 

x  2  Corinthians  v  21  y  Mathew  xxvi  37.  38  LuU 
xxii  44  Mathew  xxvii  46  *  Acts  xiii  37  a  I  Cor- 
imhians  xv  3,  4  h  John  xx  25,  27  e  Mark  xvi  j9 
Acts  i  9,  10  11  d  Romans  viii  34  Hebrews  ix  24 
e  Acts  k  42      Romans  xiv  6,  10    Actsi  11. 


25 


"o.  The  Lord  Jesus  by  his  perfect  obedience  and 
-sacrifice  of  himself,  which  he  through  the  eternal 
Spirit  once  offered  up  unto  God,/  hath  fully  satisfied 
the  justice  of  God,  procured  reconciliation,  and  pur- 
chased an  everlasting  inheiitance  in  the  kingdom  of 
heaven,  g  for  all  those  whom  the  Father  hath  given 
unto  him. 

6.  Although  the  price  of  redemption  was  not  actual- 
ly paid  by  Christ,  till  after  his  incarnation,*  yet  the 
virtue,  efficacy,  and  benefit  thereof  was  communicated 
to  the  elect  in  all  ages  successively,  from  the  beginning 
ofthe  world,  in  and  by  those  promises,  types,  and 
sacrifices,  wherein  he  was  revealed,  and  signified  to  bf; 
the  seed  of  the  woman,  which  should  bruise  the  ser- 
pent's head;A  and  the  Lamb  slain  from  the  foundation 
of  the  world;*"  being  the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day 
and  forever. 

7.  Christ  in  the  work  of  meditation  acteth  according 
to  both  natures,  by  each  natuie  doiog  that  which  is 
proper  to  itself,  yet  by  reason  ef  the  unity  of  the  per- 
son, that  which  is  proper  to  one  nature,  is  sometimes 
in  scriptutre  attributed  to  the  person  k  denomiated  by 
the  other  nature. 

8.  To  all  those  for  whom  Christ  hath  obtained  eter- 
nal redemption,  he  doth  certainly  and  effectually  i  ap- 
ply, and  communicate  the  same;  making  intercession 
for  them  ;  uniting  them  to  himself  by  his  spirit:?"  re- 
vealing unlo-them.  in  and  by  the  word,  the  mystery  of 
"salvation  ;  persuading  them  to  believe,  and  obey  ;« 
governing  their  hearts  by     his  word    and     spirit,  and 

/  Hebrews  ix  14,  and  x  14  Romans  iii  25,  26 
«■  John  xvii  2  Hebrews  ix  15  *1  Coiinthians  x  4 
Hebrews  iv  2  I  Peter  i  10.  II  &  Revelations  xiii 
5     i  Hebrews  xiii  8 

-'•  John  iii  13  Acts  xx  28  Mohn  vi  37  :  x  15,  16 
and  xvii  9  Romans  v  10  m  jtibti  17.  6  Ephesians 
i  9  1  John  v  20  n  Romans  viii  9.  13  Psalms 
c*   I. 


26 

o  overcoming  all  tlieif  enemies  by  h'is-al  mighty  power 
and  wisdom  ;  in  such  manner  and  ways,  as  are  most 
consonant  to  his  wonderful,  and  p  unsearchable  dis- 
pensation ;  and  all  of  free,  and  absolute  grace,  without 
any  condition    foreseen  irrthem,  to  procure  it. 

9.  Thisoffice  of  mediator  between  God  and  rrnn  is 
proper  q  only  to  Christ,  who  is  the  prophet,  priest,  and 
kino- of  the  church  of  God  ;  and  may  not  be  either  in 
whole,  or  any  part  thereof  transferred  from  him  to  any 
other. 

10.'  This  number  and'order  of  offices  are  necessary; 
for  in  respect  of  our  r  ignorance,  we  stand  in  need  of 
his  prophetical  office  ;  and  in  resppct  of  our  alienation 
from  God  ;s  and  impprfeetion  of  the  best  of  our  ser- 
vices, we  need  his-  priestly  office  to  reconcile  us,  and 
present  us  acceptable  unto  God  ;  and  in  respfct  of  our 
averseness;  and  utter  inability  to  return  to  God,  and 
for  our  rescue,  and  security  from  our  spiritual  adver- 
saries, we  need  his  kingly  office  t  to  convince,  subdup, 
draw,  uphold,  deliver,  arid  preserve  us  to  his  heavenly 
krgdom. 


chatter  ir. — Of  Free  Will. 

1.  God  hath  indued'  the  will  of  man  with  that 
natural  liberty  and  power  of  acting  upon  choice,  that 
it  is  a  neither  forced,  nor  by  any  necessity  of  nature 
determined  to  do  good  or  evil. 

o  1  Corinthians  xv  25.  26  pJohn  iii  8  Ephe- 
sians  i  8  q  I  Timothy  ii  5  rjohni  18  *  Colossi- 
ansi21  Galaiians  v  17  'John  xvi  8  Psalms 
ex  3  a  Mathew  xvii  12  James  i  14  Deuteronomy 
xx*  10. 


%r 


» 


2  Man  in  his  state  ofinnocency,  had  freedom,  and 
power,  to  will,  and  to  do,  that  &  which  was  good,  and 
well-pleasing  to  God ;  but  yet  c  was  mutable,  so 
that  he  might  fall  from  it. 

3.  Man  by  his  fall  into  a  state  of  sin,  hath  wholly 
lost  d  all  ability  of  will,  to  any  spiritual  good  accompa- 
nying salvation  ;  so  as  a  natural  man,  being  altogeth- 
er averse  from  that  good.e  and  dead  in  sin,  is  not  able, 
by  his  own  strength,  to/  convert  himself,  or  to  prepare 
himself  thereunto. 

4;  When  God  converts  a  sinner,  and  translates  him 
into  the  state  of  graces  he  freeth  him  from  his  natural 
bondajTP  under  s-in,  and  by  his  crace  alone  enables  him 
h  freely  to  will,  and  do  that  which  is  spiritually  good  ; 
yet  so  a*  that,  by  reason -of  his  i  remaining  corrup- 
tions, lie  doth  not  perfpetly  nor  only  will  that  which  is 
good,  but  doth  also  will  that  which  is  evil. 

5.  The  will  of  man  is  made  k  perfect  and  immuta- 
bly free  to  good  alone  in  the  estate  of  glory  only. 


chapter  x. — Of  Effectual  Calling. 

I.  Those  whom  God  hath  predestinated  unto Hfr. 
he  is-- pleased  in  his  appointed  and  accepted  time  a-  ef- 
fectually to  call  by  his  word  and  spirit  out  ofthat  state 
of  sin  and  death,  in  which  they  are  by  nature,to  grace 

b  Ecclesiastes  vii  29  c  Genesis  iii  6  d  Romans 
v  G.  and  viii  7  e  Ephesisws  iM  5  /Titus  iii  3'  4>, 
5  John  vi  44  g  Coloseians  i  13  John  viii  36  h  Phil- 
ipians  ii  13  i  Romans  vii  15,  18,  19,  21.23  *  E. 
phesian?ivl3  a  Romans  viii  30,  and  xi  7  E-phe* 
sians  i  10,  il     2  Thessaloniana  ii  13.   14. 


snd  salvation  b  by  Jesus  Christ;  enlightening  their 
minds,  spiritually  and  savingly,  toe  understand  the 
thingsofGod;  taking  away  their  b  heart  of  stone,  and 
giving  unto  them  an  heart  of  flesh  :  renewing  their 
wills,  and  by  his  almighty  power  determining  them  e 
to  that  which  is  good,  and  effectually  drawing  them 
to  Jesus  Christ  ;  yet-so,  as  they  come/  most  freely,  be- 
ing made  willing  by  his  grace. 

2.  This  effectual  call  is  of  God's  free  and  special 
grace  alone,  g  not  from  any  thing  at'all  foreseen  in 
man.  nor  from  any  power  or  agency  in  the  creature, 
co-working  with  his  special  grace: \h  the  creature  be- 
ing wholly  passive  therein,  being  dead  in  sins  and 
trespasses,  until  being  quickened  and  renewed  by  the 
Holy  Spirit,  he  is  thereby  enabled  to  answer  this  call, 
and  to  embrace  the  grace  offered  and  conveyed  in  it 
and  that  by  no  less«  power  than  that  which  raised  up 
Christ  from  the  dead. 

3.  Elect  infants  dying  in  infancy,  are  A  regenerated 
and  saved  by  Christ  through  the  spirit,  who  workelh 
when,  and  where,  and  I  how  he  pleaseth  ;  so  also  are 
nil  other  elect  persons,  who  are  incapable  of  being  out- 
wardly called  by  the  ministry  of  the  word. 

4.  Others  not  elected,  although  they  may  be  called 
by  the  ministry  of  the  word,"?  and  may  have  some 
common  operations  of  the  spirit :  yet  not  being  effec- 
tually drawn  dy  the  Father,  they  neither  will,  nor  can 
truly  n  come  to  Christ;  and  therefore  cannot  be  saved  ; 
much  less  can  men  that  receive  not  the  Christian  reli- 


f'Ephcsians  ii  1 — 6  c  Acts  xxvi  18  Ephesians  ; 
17,  18  d  Ez.kiel  36,26  e  Deuteronomy  30th 
6  Ezekiel  36ih  27  Ephesians  1st 9  /Psalms  110,  ? 
Canticles  1st  4  g  2  Timothv  1st  0  Ephesians  2  8  h\ 
Corin'.hians  2  14  Ephe*ians2,  5  John  5,25  *E 
nhesiar*  1st  19,  20  k  John  3d  3.  5,  6  Uohn  3d  8 
m  Mat  hew  22,  14,  and  13th  20,  2t  Hebrews  vi  4.  5 
*  John  Gih  44,  45.  63     [  John  2nd  24,  25. 


29 

gion  o  be  saved,  be  they  never  so  diligent  to  frame 
their  lives  according  to  the  light  of  nature,and  the  law, 
of  that  religion  they  do  profes?. 


chapter    xr — Of  Jvstificaiion. 

1.  Those  whom  God  effectually  calleth.  he  aisfcr 
freely  a  justifieth,  not  by  infusing  rightsousnes-s  into 
ihem,  but  by  b  pardoning  their  sin?,  and  by  account- 
ing and  accepting  their  persons,  as  c  righteous;  no". 
for  any  thing  wrought  in  them,  or  done  by  them,  bufe 
for  Christ's  sake  alone;  not  by  imputing  faith  itself 
the  act  of  believing,  or  any  other  d  evangelical  obe- 
dience to  them,  as  their  righteousness,  but  by  imputing 
Christ's  active  obedience  unto  the  whole  law  and  pas- 
sive obedience  in  his  death,  for  their  whole  and  sola- 
righteousness;  they  «  receiving,  and  resting  on  him, 
and  his  righteousness  by  faith,  which  they  have  no: 
of  themselves:   it  is  the  gift  of  God. 

2.  Faith  thus  receiving  and  resting  on  Christ  and 
his  righteousness,  is  the/  alone  instrument  ofjustirlca- 
:ion  ;  yet  it  is  not  alone  in  the  person  justified,  but  is 
ever  accompanied  with  all  other  saving  graces,  and 
is  no  drad  faith,  g  but  worketh  by  love. 

3.  Christ,  by  his  obedience  and  death,  did  fully  dis- 
charge the  debt  of  all  those  that  are  justified  ;  and  did 
by  the  sacrifice  of  himself,  in  the  blood  of  his  cross, 
undergoing  in  their  stead  the  penally   due  unto  them,. 

o  Acts  iv  12  John  iv  22,  and  xvii  3  a  Romans  iii  24, 
and  vii  30  b  .Romans  iv  5 — 8  Ephesians  i  7  c  1  Corin- 
thians i  30,  31  Romans  v  17,  18,19  d  Philippians  iii  8, 9 
Kphesians  ii  8,  9  Ephesians  ii  8,  9,10  e  John  i  12  Ro- 
mans v  17  /JZomans  iii  28  s  Galatiana  v  6  James  ii 
17,28.26 


so 


make  a  proper,  real  and  full  satisfaction  k  to  God's 
justice  in  their  behalf;  yet,  in  asmuch  as  he  was  given 
by  the  Father  for  them,  and  his  obedience  and  satis- 
faction accepted  in  their  stead,  and  both  i  freely,  not 
for  any  thing  in  them,  their  justification  *s  only  of  free 
grace,  that  both  the  exact  justice  and  rich  grace  of 
God  might  be  k  glorified  in  the  justification  of  sinners. 

4.  God  did  from  all  eternity  decree  to  I  justify  all 
the  elect,  and  Christ  did  in  the  fullness  of  time  die  for 
their  sins,  and  m  rise  again  for  their  justification;  nev- 
theless  they  are  not  justified  personally,  until  the 
Holy  Spirit  doth  in  due  time  a  actually  apply  Christ 
unto  them. 

5.  God  doth  continue  to  o  forgive  the  sins  of  those 
that  are  justified  ;  and  although  they  can  never  fall 
from  the  state  ofp  justification,  yet  they  may  by  their 
sins  fill  under  God's  q  fatherly  displeasure;  and  in 
ihat  condition,  they  have  not  usually  the  light  of  his 
countenance  restored  unto  them,  until  they  r  humble 
themselves,  confess  their  sins,  beg  pardon,  and  renew 
their  fnith  and  repentance. 

6.  The  justification  of  believers  under  the  Old  Tes- 
tament, was  in  all  these  respects  s  one  and  the  same 
with  the  justification  of  believers  under  the  New  Tes- 
tament. 

k  Hebrews  x  14  1  Peter  i  J 18,  19  Isaiah  liii  5  6  i  Ro- 
mans viii  32  2  Corinthians  v  21  k  .Romans  iii  26  Ephe- 
siana  i  6,  7  Ephesians  ii  7  I  Galatians  iii  8  1  Peter  i  2  1 
Timothy  ii  6  m  jRomans  iv  25  n  Colossians  i  21,  22  Ti- 
tus iii  4,  5,  6,  7  o  Matthew  vi  12  1  John  i  7,  9  p  John 
x  28  q  Psalm  Ixxxix  31,  32,33  r  Psalm  xxxii  5  Psahn 
li  7 — 12  Matthew  xxvi  75  s  Galatians  iii  9  i?owans  22. 
23,  24 


31 


chapter  xii — Of  Adoption, 

Ali  those  that  are  justified,  God  vouchsafed  in  and 
fur  the  sake  of  his  only  Son.  Jesus  Christ,  to  make  par 
lakers  of  the  grace  a  of  Adoption  ;  by  which  they  are 
taken  into  the  number,  and  enjoy  the  liberties  and  6 
privileges  of  children  of  God;  have  his  c  name  put 
upon  them,  d  receive  the  Spirit  of  Adoption  e  have 
access  to  the  throne  of  grace  with  boldness;  are  ena- 
bled to  cry  Abba.  Father;  are/ pitied,  g  protected,  h 
provided  for,  and  i  chastened  by  him,  as  by  a  Father; 
yet  never  A-  cast  off.  but  sealed  I  to  the  day  of  redemp- 
tion, and  inherit  the  promises,'"  as  heirs  of  everlast- 
ing salvation. 


chapter  sin — Of  Sanctifi cation. 

1.  They  who  are  united  to  Christ,  effectually  call- 
ed, and  regenerated,  having  a  new  heart  a  and  new 
spirit  created  in  them,  through  the  virtue  of  Christ's 
death  and  resurrection  ;  are  also  a  farther  sanctified, 
really  and  personally,  through  the  same  virtue,  b  by 
his  word  and  Spirit  dwelling  in  them;c  the  dominion 
of  the  whole  body  of   sin   is   destroyed, <Z   and  the  sev- 

o  Ephesians  i  5  Galatiaus  iv  4,5  b  Johni  12  Ro- 
mans viii  17  c2  Corinthians  vi  18  Revelationn  iii  12  d 
Romans  viii  15  eGalatians  iv  6  Ephesians  ii  13  /Psalms 
ciii  13  g  Proverbs  xiv  26  hi  Peter  v  7  i  Hebrews  xii  6 
k  Isaiah  liv  S,  9  Lamentations  iii  31  I  Ephesians  iv  30  m 
Hebrews  i   14,  and  vi  12 

a  Acts  xx  32  Romans  vi  5,6  JJohuxviil7  Ephesians 
iii  16—19  1  Thesnalonians  v  21,  22,  23  c  Romans  vi  14 
d  Galatians  v  14.  24 


32T 


era!  lusts  thereof,  are  more  nnd  more  weakened,  and* 
mortified;  and  they  more  and  more  quickened,  and  e 
strengthened  in  all  saving  graces,  to  the/  practice  of 
all  true  holiness^  without  which  no  man  shall  see  the 
Lord. 

2.  This  sanctification  is  g  throughout  in  the  whole 
man,  yet  imperfect  h  in  this  life;  there  abideth  still 
some  remnants  of  corruption  in  every  part,  whence 
ariseth  a  i  continual  and  irreconcilable  war ;  the  flesh' 
lusting  against  the  spirit,  and  the  spirit  against  the- 
flesh. 

3.  In  which  war,  although  the  remaining  corrup- 
tion for  a  lime  may  much  k  prevail,  yrt  through  the 
continual  supply  of  strength,  from  the  sanctifying  spir- 
it of  Christ,  I  the  regenerate  part  doth  overcome: 
and  so  the  saints  grow  in  grace,  perfecting  holiness 
in  the  /ear  of  God,  m  pressing  after  a  heavenly  life,  m 
evangelical  obedience  to  all  the  oemmands  which 
o'hrist.  as  head  and  king,  in  his  word  hath  prescribe 
edto  them. 


chapter  xiv — Of  Savins  Faith 


1*.  The  grace  of  faith,  whereby  the  elect  are  ena- 
bled to  believe  to  the  saving  of  their  souls,  is  the  work 
of  the  spirit  or.  Christ  a  in  their  hearts,  and  is  ordina- 
rily wrought  by  the  ministry  of  the  b  woid  ;  by  which 

eCoIossians  i  11  /2  Corinthians  vii  1  Hebrews  xiii  1-t 
g  1  Thessalonians  v  23  h  Romans  vii  18,  23  i  Galatian? 
v  17  1  Peter  ii  1 1  k  Romaics  vii  23  I  Romans  vi 
14  m  Ephesians  iv  15,16  2  Corinthians  iii  18  2  Corin- 
thians vii  1 

a  2  Corinthians  iv  13     Ephesians  ii  8       o  Romans  x  14,  17, 


also,  and  by  the  administration  of  baptism,  and  the 
Lord's  Supper,  prayer  and  other  means  appointed  of 
God    is  increased*  and  strengthened. 

2.  By  this  faith,  a  Christian  believeth  to  be  tnie<2 
whatsoever  is  revealed  in  the  word,  on  the  authority 
of  God  himself;  and  also  apprehendeth  an  excellency 
■herein**  above  all  other  writings:;  and  all  things  in 
the  world:  as  it  bears  forth  the  glory  of  God  in  his 
attributes,  the  excellency  of  Christ  in  his  nature  and 
offices-and  the  power  and  fulness  of  the  Holy  Spiitt 
in  his -working  and  operations  ;  and  so  is  enable  to/ 
cast  his  soul  upon  the  trufh  thus  believed,  and  also 
acteth  differently  upon  that  which  each  particular  pas- 
sage thereof  containcth  ^yielding  obedience  to  the  g 
eemrnands,  trembling  at  the  h  threatnings,  and  embra- 
cing the  *  promises  of  God,  for  this  life,  and  that  which 
is  to  come:  but-  the  principal  acts  of  saving  fckb,  have 
immediate  relation  to  Christ,  accepting,  receiving,  and 
resting  upon  k  him  alone  for  justification,  sancti£ca- 
tion,  and  eternal  life.by  virtue  of  the  covenant  of  grace, 

3.  This  faith,  although  it  be  different  in  degrees, 
and  may  be  wea-k,  Z  or  strong,  yet  it  is  in -the  least  de- 
cree of  it,  differed  in  the  k4nd.  or  nature  of  it,  (as  is 
all  other  saving,  grace)  from  the  faith  m  and  common 
g-race  of  temporary  believers  :  and  therefore,  though  it 
may  be  many  times  assailed  and  weakened,  yet  it  gets 
^  the  victory,  growing  up  in  many,  to  the  attainment 
of  a  full  o  assurance  through  Christ,  who  is  both  the 
author^  and  finisher  of  our  fa-ith. 

c  Luke  xvii  5-  1  Peter  ii  %■  Acts  xx  32  d  Acts 
xxiv  14  e  Psalm  xix  7,  8,  9,  10,  and  cxix  72  /2 
Timothy  i  12  g  John  xv  14  h  Isaiah  lxvi  2  *  He- 
brews xi  13  &  John  i  12-  Acts  xvi  31  Galatians 
ii  20-  Acts  xv  11  I  Hebrews-  v  13,  14  Mathew 
vi  30  Romans  vi  19,  20  m  2-  Peter  i  1  n  Ephe- 
siansvi  16  1  John  v  4,  5'  o  Hebrews  vi  11,  12 
Colossians  i:  2  p  Hebrews  xii  2 
3 


m 


(.it aptek  st.— Of  Repentance   unto   Life  ?and  Sal- 
vation. 

1.  Such  of  the  elect  as  are  converted  at  riper  yean? 
having  o.  for  sometime  lived  in  the  state  of  nature,  and 
therein  served  divers  lusts  and  pleasure ;  God  in  their 
effectual  calling,  giveth  them  repentance  unto  life. 

2.  Whereas  there  is  none  that  doth  good,  and  sin- 
neth  b  not,  and  the  best  of  men  may,  through  the 
power  and  deceitfulness  of  their  corruption  dwelling  in 
them,  with  the  prevalency  of  temptation,  fall  into 
greater  sins  and  provocations,  God  hath  in  the  cove- 
nant of  grace,  mercifully  provided  that  believers  so 
Sinning  and  falling,  c  be  renewed  through  repentance 
mfito  salvation. 

"J.  This  saving  repentance  is  an  d  eveangelical 
grace,  whereby  a  person,  being  by  the  Holy  Spirit 
made  sensible  of  the  manifold  evils  ot  his  sin,  doth 
by  faith  in  Christ,  humble  himself  for  it,  with  godly 
sorrow,  detestation  of  it,  and  self-abhorrancy  \e  pray- 
ing for  pardon  and  strength  of  grace,  with  a  purpose 
and  endeavour  by  supplies  of  the  Spirit  to/  walk 
before  God  unto  all  well-pleasing  in  all  things. 

4.  As  repentance  is  to  be  continued  through  the 
whole  course  of  our  lives,  upon  the  account  of  the 
body  of  death  and  the  motions  thereof;  so  it  is  every 
man's  duty  to  repent  of  his  g  particular  known  sins. 
patticulary. 

5.  Such  is  the  provision  which  God  hath  made 
through  Christ  in  the   covenant  of  grace,  for  the  pre- 

a  Titus  iii  2,  3,  4,  5  b  Ecclesiastes  vii  20  c  Luke 
xxii  3.1,  32  d  Zachariah  xii  10  Acts  xi  18  e  E- 
zekidi  xxxvi  31  2  Corinthians  vii  11  /Psalm  cxix 
6.  128     g  Luke  xix  8     1  Timothy  i  13,  15. 


35 

nervation  of  believers  unto  salvation,  that  aUhou* 
there  is  no  sin  so  small  but  it  deserves  k  damnation 
yet  there  is  no  sin  so  great  that  it  shall  bring  damna- 
tion on  them  that  i  repent;  which  makes  the  constant 
preaching  of  repentance  necessary. 


chapter  xvi. — Of  Good  Works. 

1.  Good  works  are  only  such  as  God  hath  a  com- 
landed  in  his  Holy  Word,  and  not  such  as-  without 
the  warrant  thereof,  are  devised  by  men,  out  of  blind 
zeal,  b  or  upon  any  pretence  of  good  intentions. 

2.  These  good  works,  done  in  obedience  to  God?s 
commadments,  are  the  fruits  and  evidences  c  of  a 
true  and  lively  faith  ;  and  by  them  believers  mani- 
fest their  d  thankfulness,  strenghten  their  e  assu- 
ranee,  edify  their.ybrethren,  adorn  the  profession  of 
the  Gospel,  stop  the  mouths  of  the  adversaries,  and 
glorify  g  God,  whose  workmanship  they  are,  crea- 
ted in  Christ  Jesus  h  thereunto,  that  having  their 
fruit  unto  holiness  they  may  have  the  end  i  eternal 
life. 

3.  Their  ability  to  do  good  works,  is  not  at  all  of 
themselves,  but  wholly  from  the  spirit  k  of  Christ ; 
and  that  they  may  be  enabled  thereunto,  besides  the 
graces  they  have  already  received,  there  is  necessa- 

l  Romans  vi  23  »  Isaiah  i  16,  17,  18,  and  Iv  7 
a  Micah  vi  8  Hebrews  xiii  2\  b  Mathew  xv  9 
Isaiah  xix  13  c  James  ii  18,  22  d  Psalm  cxvi  12 
13  e  l  John  ii  3,;5  2  Peter  i  5— 11  /  Mathew  v 
16  g  1  Timothy  vi  1  1  Peter  ii  15  Philippians 
i  11  h  Ephesians  ii  10  i  Romans  vi  22  *  John 
xv  |,  5 


m 


ry  arid  7  actual  influence  of  the  same  Holy  Spirit  to 
work  in  them  to  will  and  to  do  of  his  good  pleasure  ; 
yet  are  they  not  hereupon  to  grow  negligent,pas  if 
they  were  not  bound  to  perform  any  duty.unless  up- 
on a  special  motion  of  the  Spirit,  but  they  ought  to 
be  diligent  in  m  stiring  up  the  grace  of  God  that 
is  in  them. 

4.  They  who  in  their  obedience  attain  to  the 
greatest  height  which  is  possible  ia  this  life,  are  so 
far  from  be  ingable  to  supererogate,  and  to  do  more 
than  God  requires,  as  that  ?t  they  fall  short  of  much 
which  in  duty  they  are  bound  to  do. 

5.  We  cannot  by  our  best  works  merit  pardon  of 
sin,  or  eternal  life  at  the  hand  of  God,  by  reason  of 
the  great  dispropotion  that  is  between  them  and  the 
glory  to  come,  and  the  infinite  distance  that  is  be- 
tween  us  and  God,  whom  by  them  we  can  neither 
profit,  nor  satisfy,  for  the  debt  of  our  o  former  sins, 
but  when  we  have  done  all  we  can,  we  have  done 
but  our  duty,  and  are  unprofitable  servants  :  and  be- 
cause  as  they  are  good,  they  'proceed  from  his  v 
Spirit,  and  as  they  are  wrought  by  us,  they  are  de- 
tiled,  q  and  mixed  with  so  much  weakness  and  im- 
perfection, that  they  cannot  endure  the  severity  of 
God's  judgment. 

6.  Yet  notwithstanding,  the  persons  of  belivers 
being  accepted  through  Christ,  their  good  works 
also  are  accepted  in  r  him  ;  not  as  though  they  were 
in  this  life  wholly  unblamable   and    unreprovable  in 

I  2  Corinthians  iii  5  Philippians  ii  13  m  Phil- 
ippians  ii  12  Hebrews  vi  11,  12  Isaiah  lxiv  7. — 
n  Job  ix  2,  3  Galat.ians  v  17  Luke  xvii  10  o  Ro- 
mans iii  20  Ephesians  ii  8,  9  Roman  iv  6  p  Gal- 
atiansv22,  23  q  Isaiah  lxiv  6  Psalm  cxliii  2  r  E* 
phesiins  i  6     1  Peter  ii  5 


87 


God's  sight:  hut  that  he  looking  upon  them  in  his 
son,  is  pleased  to  accept  and  reward  that  which  is 
s  sincere,  although  accompanied  with  many  weak- 
nesses and  imperfections. 

7.  Works  done  by  unregenerate  men,  although  for 
the  matter  of  them  they  may  be  things  which  God 
commands  and  of  good  use,  both  to  themselves  and 
t  others  ;  yet  because  they  proceed  not  from  a  heart 
purified  by  u  faith,  nor  are  done  in  a  right  manner 
according  to  the  w  word,  nor  to  a  right  end  the  x 
glory  of  God,  they  are  sinful  and  cannot  please  God, 
nor  make  a  man  meet  to  receive  grace  from  y  God  ; 
and  yet  their  neglect  of  them  is  more  sinful,  and  z 
displeasing  to  God. 


chahter  xvii. — Of  the  perseverance   of  the  saints. 

1.  Those  Avhom  God  hath  accepted  in  the  belov- 
ed, effectually  called  and  sanctified  by  his  spirit,  and 
given  the  precious  faith  ofhis  elect  unto,  can  neither 
totally  nor  finally  fall  from  the  state  of  grace,  a  but 
shall  certainly  persevere  therein  to  the  end,  and  be 
eternally-saved ;  seeing  the  gifts  and  callings  of 
God  are  without  repentance,  (whence    he    still    be- 

*  Mathew  xxv  21,23  Hebrews  vi  10  t  2  Kings 
x  30  1  Kinors  xxi  27,  29  u  Genesis  iv  5  Hebrews 
xi  4,6  w  1  Corinthians  xiii  1  x  Malhew  vi  2,  5. — 
y  Amos  v  21,  22  Romans  ix  16  Titus  iii  5  z  Job 
xxi  14,  15     Matthew  xxv41,  42,  43 

a  John  x  28,  29  Philipians  i  6  2  Timothy  ii  19 
1  John  ii  19 


38 

gets  and  nourishes  in  them  faith,  repentance*  love, 
joy,  hope,  and  all  the  graces  of  the  Spirit  unto  im- 
mortality) and  though  many  storms  and  flood  arise 
and  beat  against  them,  yet  they  shall  never  be  able 
to  take  them  ofFthat  foundation  and  rock  which  by 
faith  they  are  fastened  upon  :  notwithstanding,  thro' 
unbelief  and  the  temptation  of  satan,  the  sensible 
sight  of  the  light  and  love  of  God,  may  for  a  time 
be  clouded,  and  obscured  from, b  them,  yet  it  is  still 
the  same,  c  and  they  shall  be  sure  to  be  kept  by  the 
power  of  God  unto  salvation,  vtfhere  they  shall  en- 
joy their  purchased  possession,  they  being  engraven 
upon  the  palm  of  his  hands,  and  their  names  having 
been  written  in  the  book  of  life  from  all  eternity. 

2.  This  perservance  of  the  saints,  depends  not 
upon  their  own  free  will,  but  upon  the  immutability 
of  the  decree  of  d  election,  flowing  from  the  free 
and  unchangable  love  of  God  the  Father,  upon  the 
efficacy  of  the  merit  and  intercession  of  Jesus  Christ 
e  and  union  with  him,  the  f  oath  of  God,  the  abiding 
of  his  spirit,  and  the  g  seed  of  God  within  them,  and 
the  nature  of  the  h  covenant  of  grace,  from  all  which 
ariseth  also  the  certainty  and  infallibility  thereof. 

3.  And  though  they  may,  through  the  temptation 
of  satan,  and  of  the  world,  the  preva-lency  of  corrup- 
tion remaining  in  them,  and  the  npglect  of  means  of 
their  preservation,  fall  into  grievous  i  sins,  and  for  a 
time  continue  therein;  whereby  they  incur  A:  God's 
displeasure,  and    grieve    his    Holy   Spirit,   come   to 

6  Psalm  89th  31,  32  1  Corinthians  xi  22  c  Mai- 
nchi  iii  6  d  Romans  viii  30  Romans  ix  11,  16.—* 
e  Romans  v  9,  10  John  xiv  19  /  Hebrews  vi  17, 
13  g  1  John  iii  9  h  Jeremiah  32d  40  i  Matthew 
26th  70.  72,  74  k  Isaiah  Ixiv  5,  9  Ephesians  iv- 
30 


39 


have  their  graces  and  I  comforts  impaired,  have 
their  hearts  hardened,  and  their  consciences  wound- 
ed, mi  hurt  and  scandalize  others-,  and  bring  tempo- 
ral judgments  n  upon  themseh-es,  yet  they  shall  re- 
newtheiro  repentance,  and  be  preserved,  through 
*Mrh  in  Christ  Jesu?,  to  the  end. 


"Hapler  xviii— -Of  the  Assurance  of  Grace 
and  S&lvatwn. 

I  Although  temporary  believers,  and  other  un- 
regenerate  men  may  vainly  deceive  themselves  with 
false  hopes  at»d  carnal  presumptions,  of  being  in  the 
•avor  of  God,  and  state  of  salvation  a  which  hope  of 
theirs  shall  perish  :  yet  such  as  truly  believe  in  the 
Lord  Jesus  and  lore  him  in  sincerity,  endeavoring 
to  walk  in  all  good  conscience  before  him,  may  in 
this  life  be  certainly  assured, 0  that  they  are  'in  the 
state  of  grace,  and  may  rejoice  in  the  hope  of  the  glo* 
ry  ofGod,  which  hope  shall  never  make  them  c 
ashamed. 

2.  This  certainty  is  not  a  bare  conjectural  and 
probable  persuasion,,  grounded  upond  a  fallible  hope, 
but  an  infallible  assurance  of   faith,    founded  on  the 

I  Psalm  li  10r  12-  m  Psalm  32d  3,  4  n  2  Sam- 
uel 12,  14     o  Lake  xxii  32.  61,  62 

"  Job  viii  13.  14  Matthew  vii  22^23  h  \  John 
ii  3  1  John  iii  14,  18,  19,  21,  24  1  John  v  13.— 
*  Rojsaas  v2.5     d  Hebrews  vi  11,  19 


40 

blood  and  righteousness  of  Christ  e  revealed  in  the 
gospel  ;  and  also  upon  the  inward  y  evidence  of 
those  graces  of  the  spirit  unto  which  promises  are 
made,  and  on  the  testimony  of  the  g  spirit  of  adop- 
tion, witnessing  with  om  spirits,  that  we  are  the 
children  of  God,  and-as  a  ifruii  thereof,  keeping- the 
heart  both  h  humble  and  holy. 

8.  This  infallible  assurance  doth  not  so  be  Ion  g  to 
the  essence  of  faith,  but  that  a  tree  believer  may 
wait  long  and  conflict  with  many  difkulties,before  he 
be  i  partaker  of  it  :  yet  being  enabled  by  the  spirit, 
to  know  things  which  are  freely  given  him  of  God, 
he  may,  without  extraordinary  revelation,  ;in  the 
right  use  of  means  £  attain  thereunto;  and  there- 
fore  it  is  the  duty  of  every  one  to  give  all  diligence 
to  make  his  calling  and  election  sure,  that  thereby 
his  heart  maybe  enlarged  in  peace  and  joy  in  the 
Holy  Spirit,  in  love  and  thankfulness  to  God  and  in 
strength  and  cheerfulness  in  the  duties  of  obedience, 
the  proper  /  fruits  of  this  assurance  ;  so  far  is  it  m 
from  inclining  men  to  licentiousness. 

4.  True  believers  may  har/e  the  assurance  of  their 
sa  ration  divers  ways  shaken,  diminished,  and  inter- 
mitied  ;  a-s  n  by  negligence  in  preserving  of  it,  by  a 
falling  into  some  special  sin,  which  vvoundeth  the 
eonscience,  and  grieveththe  spirit  ;  by  some  sudden 
or  p  vehement  temptation  by  God's  withdrawing  the 
q  light  of  his  countenance,  and  suffering  even  such  as 

e  H.  brews  vi  17.  IS  /  2  Peter  i  4,  5,  40,  11  g  Ro- 
mans viii  15,  16  h  1  John  iii  1 — 3  i  Isaiah  I  1Q 
Psalm  83(  h  and  77ih  1—12  k  1  John  iv  13.— 
Hi  brews  vi  11.  12  /  Romans  v  1J#2,  5  and  xiv  1.7 
P^alm  cxix  32  m  Romans  vi  1.2  Titus  ii  11,  12, 
1.4  n  Canticles  v  2,  3,  6  o  Psalm  Ii  8,  12,  14  p 
Psalm  cxvi  11  :  Ixxvii  7.  8,  and  xxxi  22  q  Psalm 
30*h  7 


41 

fear  him  to  walk  in  darkness,  and  to  have  no  light; 
yet  are  they  never  destitute  of  the  r  seed  of  God,  and 
life  s  of  faith,  that  love  of  Christ  and  the  brethren, 
that  sincerity  of  heart,  and  conscience  of  duty,  out 
of  which. by  the  operation  of  the  spirit,  this  assu- 
rance may  in  due  time  be  t  revived  and  by  which 
in  the  mean  time,  they  are  u  preserved  from  utter 
-despair. 


-chapter  xix — Of  the  Law  of  God. 

1.  God  gave  to  Adam  a  law  of  universal  obedi- 
ence,«  written  in  his  heart,  and  a  particular  pre- 
cept  of  not  eating  the  fruit  of  the  tree  of  knowledge 
of  good  and  evil.;  by  which  he  bound  him,  and  all 
his  posterity  to  personal,  entire,  exact  and  perpetual 
b  obedience  ;  promised  life  upcm  fulfilling,  and  c 
threatened  death  upon  the  breach  of  it,  and  endued 
him  with  power  and  ability  to  keep    it. 

2.  The  same  law  that  was  first  written  in  the 
heart  of  man  d  continued  to  be  superfect  rule  of 
righteousness  after  the  fall,  and  was  delivered  by' God 
upon  Mount  Sinai,  in  e  ten  commandments,  and 
written  in  two  table-s,  the  four  first  containg  our 
duty  towards  God,  and  the  other  six  our  duty  to  man. 

Besides  this  law, -commonly  called  moral,  God 
was  pleased  to  give  to  the  people  of  Israel,  ceremoni- 

r  1  John  iii  9  s  Luke  xxii  32  *  Psalm  xlii  5,  11 
"   Lamentation^  iii  26 — 31 

a  Genesis  i  27  Eeclesiastes  vii  29  &  Romans  x 
-5  c  Galatinns  iii  10,  12  d  Romans  ii  14,  15  e  Deu- 
teronomy  x  4 


m 


al  laws-,  containing  several  typical  ordinances,  part- 
lyof  worship,/  prefiguring  Christ,  his  graces,  ac- 
tions,, sufferings,  and  benefits  ;  and  partly  holding 
forth  divers  instructions  g  of  moral  duties,  all  which 
ceremonial  laws  being  appointed  only  to  the  time  of 
reformation,  are,  by  Jesus  Christ  the  true  Messiah, 
and  only  law. giver,  who  was  furnished  with  power 
from  the  Father  for  that  end,  h  abrogated  and  takers 
away. 

4.  To  them  also  he  gave  sundry  judicial  laws, 
which  expired  together  with  the  state  of  that  people, 
not  obliging  any  now  by  the  virtue  of  that  institution; 
their  general  i  equity  only  being  of  moral  use. 

5.  The  moral  law  doth  forever  bind  all,  k  as  well 
justified  persons  as  others,  to  the  obedience  thereof 
and  that  not  only  in  regard  of  the  matter  contained 
;:n  it,  but  also  in  respect  of  the  I  authority  of  God 
the  creator  who  gave  it;  neither  doth  Christ  in  the 
gospel  any  way  dissolve,  in  but  much  strengthen  this 
obligation. 

6.  Although  true  believers  be  not  under  the  law, 
as  a  covenant  of  works,  n  to  be  thereby  justified  or 
condemned,  yet  it  is  of  great  use  to  them,  as  well  as 
to  others,  in  that,  as  a  rule  of  life,  imforming  then; 
of  the  will  of  God  and  their  duty,  it  directs  and  binds 
them  to  walk  accordingly  o  discovering  also  the 
sinful  pollutions  of  their  natures,  hearts  and  lives,  so 
as  examining  themselves  thereby  they  may  come 
:o  further  conviction  of,  humiliation  for,  and  hatred 

/Hebrews  x  1  Colossians  ii  17  g\  Corinthians 
v  7  h  Colossians  ii  14.  16,  17  Ephesians  ii  14,-  16 
i  1  Corinthians  ix  8,  9,  10  k  Romans  xiii  8,  9,  10" 
James  ii  8,  10,  11,  12  Uames  ii  IT),  11  m  Mat- 
thevv  v  17 — 19  Romans  iii  31  «  Romans  vi  14- 
Galatians  ii  16  Romans  viii  1,  and  x  4  o  Romans 
:ii  20,  and  vii  7,  &c. 


"B 


'  43 

gainst  sin  ;  together  w4th  a  clearer  sight  of  the  :w€tl 
.hey  have  of  Christ,  and  the  perfection  of  his  obe. 
f'ience  :  it  is  likewise  of  use  to  the  regenerate,  to 
restrain  their  corruptions,  in  that  it  forbids  sin  ;  and 
the  threatenings  of  it  serve  to  show  what  even  their 
»ins  deserve,  and  what  afflctions  in  this  life  they 
may  except  for  them,  although  freed  from  the  curse 
and  unallayed  rigor  thereof.  These  promises  of  it 
likewise  show  them  God's  approbation  of  obedience 
and  what  blessings  they  may  expect  upon  the  pei- 
formance  thereof,  though  not  as  due  to  them  by  the- 
law  as  a  convenant  of  works  ;  so  as  man's  doing  good, 
and  refraining  from  evil,  because  the  law  encour- 
ageth  to  the  one,  and  deterreth  from  the  other,  is  no 
evidence  of  his  being p  under  the  law,  and  not  un- 
der grace. 

7.  Neither  are  the  forementioned  uses  of  the  law 
q  contrary  to  the  grace  of  the  gospel,  but  do  sweetly 
comply  with  it,  the  spirit  ot  Christ  subduing  r  and 
enabling  the  will  of  man  to  do  that  freely  and  cheer- 
fully which  the  will  of  God,  revealed  in  the  law,  re»- 
quireth  to  be  done. 


chapter  xx.— Of  the  Gospel,  and  of  the  Extent    of 

the  Grace  thereof. 

1.  The  covenant  of  works  being   broken  by   sin, 
and  made  unprofitable  unto  life,  God  was  pieased   to 

p  Romans   vi    12 — 14      1  Peter  iii   8 — 13     f  Gaktians- ili 
21     r  Ezek;elxxxvti2l. 


44 


give  forth  the  promise  of  Christ,  a  the  seed  of  the 
woman,  as  the  means  of  calling  the  elect,  and  beget* 
ting  in  them  faith  and  repentance  ;  in  this  promise, 
the  b  gospel,  as  to  the  substance  of  it,  was  reveal- 
ed, and  was  therein  effectual,  for  the  conversion 
and  salvation  of  sinners. 

2.  This  promise  of  Christ,  and  salvation  by  him, 
is  revealed  only  by  c  the  word  of  God ;  neither  do 
the  works  of  creation,  or  providence*  with  the  light 
of  nature,  d  make  discover)  of  Christ,  or  of  grace 
by  him,  so  much  as  in  a  general,  or  obscure  way  : 
much  less,  that  men  destitute  of  the  revelation  of 
him  by  the  promise,  or  gospel, ■  e  should  -be  enabled 
thereby,  to  attain  saving  faith,  or  repentance. 

3.  The  revelation  of  the  ^gospel  unto  sinners, 
made  in  divers  times,  and  by  sundry  parts,  with 
the  addition  -of  promises,  and  precepts,  for  the    obe- 

'dience  required  therein,  as  to  the  nations,  and  per- 
sons, to  whom  it  is  granted,  is  merely  of  the  ^sov- 
ereign will  and  good  pleasures  of  God,  not  being  an- 
nexed  by  virtue  of  any  promise,  to  the  due  improve- 
ment  of  men's  natural  abilities,  by  virtue  of  com- 
mon light  received  without  it ;  which  none  ever  did  g 
make,  or  can  so  do;  and  therefore  in  all  ages  the 
preaching  off-he  gospel  has  been  granted  unto  per- 
sons, and  nations,  as  to  the  extending  or  limiting  of 
it  in  great  variety,  according  to  the  counsel  of  the 
will  of  God. 

4.  Although  the  gospel  be  the  only  outward  means 
of  revealing  Christ,  and  saving  grace,  and  is,  as 
such,  abundantly  sufficient  thereunto  ;  yet  that  men 
who  are   dead    in  terspasses,  may   be  born  again 

• 
a  Genesis  iii  15     b  Revelations  xiii  8       c  Romans    1    17     d 
Romans  x  14,    15,    17       e  Proverbs    xxix  18     Isaiah  xxv  7 
Isaiah  lx  2,  3    /Tsalm  exlvii  20     Acts   xvi  -7     g  Romans 

H  18,  &G. 


u 


quickened  or  regenerated,  there  is  moreover  nec- 
essary, an  effectual  insuperable  h  work  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  upon  the  whole  soul,  for  the  producing  in 
them  a  new  spiritual  life  ;  without  which  no  other 
means  will  effect  i  their  conversion    unto  God. 


chapter  xxi — Of    Christian   Liberty  and 
Liberty  of  Conscience. 

1.  The  liberty  which  Christ  hath  purchased  fur 
believers  under  the  gospel,  consists  in  their  free* 
dom  from  the  guilt  of  sin,  the  condemning  wrath  of 
God,  and  rigour  and  a  curse  of  the  law,  and  in 
*heir  being  delivered  from  this  present  evil  b  world > 
bondage  to  c  satan,  and  dominion  d  of  sin,  from  the 
e  evil  of  affliction,  th8  fear,  and  sting  f  of  deaths 
the  victory  of  the  grave,  and  g  everlasting  damna- 
tion :  as  also  in  their  h  free  access  to  God,  snd 
their  yielding  obedience  unto  him,  not  out  of  a  sla- 
vish fear,  i  but  a  child-like  love,   and   willing  mind. 

All  whicb  were  common  also  to  believers  under 
the  law  k  for  the  substance  of  them  ;  but  under  the 
New  Testament,  the  liberty  of  christians  is  further 
enlarged  in  their  freedom  from  the  yoke  of  the  cere- 
monial law,  to  whic  b  the  Jewish  Church  was  sub= 
jected,  and  in  greater  boldness  of  access  to  the  throne 

h  Psalm  ex  3  1  Corinthians  ii  14  Epheeiarra  i  19,  20  i 
John  vi  44     2  Corinthians,  iv  4,  6 

a  Galatians  iii  13  b  Galatians  i  4  c  Acts  xxvi  IS  dR> 
mans  viii  3  e  .Romans  viii  28  /  1  Corinthians  xv  54 — 57; 
g  2  Thessalonians  i  10  h  Romans  viii  15  i  Luke 4  75  1 
John  iv  18     k  Galatians  iii  9,  14 


46 


-of  grace,  and  in  fuller  communications  of  the  I  free- 
spirit  of  God,  than  believers  under  the  law  did  or- 
dinarily partake  of. 

2.  God  alone  is  m  Lord  of  the  conscience,  and 
hath  left  it  free  from  the  doctrines  and  com- 
mandments of  men  n  which  are  in  any  thing  contra- 
ry to  his  word,  or  not  contained  in  it.  So  that  to 
believe  such  doctrines,  or  obey  such  commands  out 
of  conscience  o  is  to  betray  true  liberty  of  con- 
science ;  and  the  requiring  of  an  p  implicit  faith 
and  absolute  and  blind  obedience,  is  to  destroy  lib- 
erty of  conscience  and  reason  also. 

3.  They  who,  upon  pretence  of  christian  liberty, 
do  practise  any  sin,  or  cheerish  any  sinful  lust,  as 
they  do  thereby  pervert  the  main  design  of  the  grace 
of  the  gospel,  q  to  their  own  destruction,  so  they 
wholy  destroy  r  ttie  end  ofchristian  liberty  ;  which 
is,  that  being  delivered  out  of  the  hands  of  all  our 
enemies,  we  might  serve  the  Lord  without  fear,  in 
holiness  and  righteousness  before  him,  all  the  days 
of  our  lives. 


chapter    xxn — Of    Religious   Worship  and  the 
Sabbath  Day. 

1.  The  light  of  nature  shows  that  there  is  a  God, 
who  hath  lordship  and  sovereignty  over  all  ;  is  just, 

/  Johnvii38,  39  Hebrews  x  19—21  m  James  iv  12 
Romans  xiv  4  n  Acts  iv  19,  and  v  29  1  Corinthians  vii  23 
Matthew  xv  9  o  Colossians  ii  20,  22,  23  p  1  Corinthians 
iii  5  2  Corinthians  i  24  q  Romans  vi  1,  2  r  Gal  v  13  2 
IVter  ii  18—21 


47 


good,  and  doth  good  unto  ail;  and  is  therefore  to  be 
feared,  loved,  praised,  called  upon,  trusted  in  and  ser- 
ved, with  all  the  heart  and  all  the  son  I  a  and  with  all 
the  might.  But  the  acceptable  way  of  worshipping 
the  true  God,  is  b  instituted  by  himself,  and  so  limited 
by  his  own  revealed  will, that  he  may  not  be  worship- 
ped according  to  the  imaginations  and  devices  of  men. 
or  the  suggestion  of  Satan,  under  any  visible  represen- 
tations, or  c  any  other  way  not  prescribed  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures. 

2.  Religious  worship  is  to  be  given  to  God  the 
-Father,  Son  and  Holy  Spirit,  and  to  him  d  alone; 
not  to  angels,  saints,  or  any  other  e  creatures  ;and  since 
the  fall  not  without  a/  Mediator,  nor  in  the  mediation 
of  any  other  butg-  Christ  alone. 

3.  Prayer  with  thankfulness,  being  one  special  part 
of  natural  worship,  is  by  God  required  of#  all  men. 
But  that  it  may  be  accepted,  it  is  to  be  made  in  the* 
name  of  the  Son,by  the  help  |  of  the  Spirit,  according 
to  I  his  will ;  with  understanding,  reverence,  humility, 
fervency,  faith,  love  and  perseverance,  and  with  others 
in  a  7/1  known  tongue. 

4.  Prayer  is  to  be  made  for  things  lawful,  and  for 
all  sorts  of  men  living ,«  or  that  shall  live  hereafter; 
but  not  o  for  the  dead  nor  for  those  of  whom  it  may 
be  known,  that  they  have  sinned  p  the  sin   unto  death. 

-5.  They  reading  of  the  Scriptures,  preaching,  and 
'  hearing  the  word  of  God, teaching  and  admonishing 
one  another  in  psalms,  hymns,  and  s  piri'ual  songs, 
singing  with  grace  in  our  hearts  to  s  the  Lord  :  as  also 

a  Jeremiah  x  7  Mark  xii  33  b  Deuteronomy  xii  32  c 
Exodus  xx  4,  5,  6  d  Matthew  ix  9,10  John  vi  23  Mat- 
thew xxviii  19  e  iZomans  i  25  Colossians  ii  18  Revelations 
xix  10  /  John  xiv  6  g  \  Timothy  ii  5  h  Psalms  xcv  1,  7 
Psalms  ixv  2  i  John  xiv  13,  14  k  Romans  viii  26  11  John 
v  14  in  1  Corinthians  xiv  16,  17  n  1  Timothy  ii  1,  2  2 
Samuel  vii  29  o  2  Samuel  xii  21 — 23  q\  John  v  16  p 
1  Timothy  iv  13     r  2  Timothy  iv  2     Luke  viii  18. 


43 


::he  administration  t  of  Baptism,  and  u  the  Lord's 
Supper,  are  all  parts  of  religious  worship  of  God,  to 
be  performed  in  obedience  to  him,  with  understanding 
faith,  reverence,  and  godly  fear  ;  moreover,  solemn  hu- 
miliation,^ with  fasting,  and  thanksgiving  upon'/ 
special  occasions,  ought  to  be  used  in  an  holy  and 
religious  manner. 

6.  Neither  prayer,  nor  any  other  -  pnrt  ofrelgious- 
worship,  is  now,  under  the  gospel,  tied  unto,  or  made 
more  acceptable  by  any  place  in  v  hich  it  is  z  per- 
formed,  or  towards  which  it  is  directed  ;  but  God  is  to 
be  worshipped  every  where  in  spirit,  and  in  truth  :  as- 
in  a  private  familes  b  daily,  and  c  in  secret,  each  one  by 
himself,  so  more  solemnly  in  the  public  assemblies 
which  are  not  carelessly,  nor  wilfully  to  be  d  neglected 
or  forsaken,  when  God  bv  his  word  or  providence  call- 
ath  thereunto. 

7.  As  it  is  of  the  law  of  nature,  that  in  general,  a 
proportion  of  time,  by  God's  appointment  be  set  apart 
tor  the  worship  of  God,  so  by  his  word  in  a  positive, 
moral  and  perpetual  commandment,  binding  all  men, 
in  all  ages,  he  hath  particularly  appointed  one  day  in 
seven  for  a  e  sabbath  to  be  kept  holy  unto  him,  which 
;rom  the  beginning  of  the  world,  to  the  resurrection  of  • 
Christ,  was  the  last  day  of  the  week  ;  and  from  the 
resurrection  of  Christ,  was  changed  into  the  first  day 
of  the  week./  which  is  called  the  Lord's.day  ;  and  is 
to  be  continued  to  the  end  of  the  world,  as  the  Christian 
sabbath  ;  the  observation  of  the  last  day  of  the  week 
being  abolished. 

8.  The  sabbath  is  then  kept  holy  unto  the  Lord, 
when  men,  after  a  due  preparing  of  their    hearts,  and 

8  Colossians  iii  16  Ephesians  v  19  t  Matthew  xxviii  19. 
TO  u  1  Corinthians  xi  26  x  Esther  iv  16  Joel  ii  12  y 
'Ixodusxv  1  &.c  Psalms  cvii  z  John  iv  21  Malachi  i  11 
1  Timothy  ii  8  a  Acts  v  2  ■  b  Matthew  vi  11  Psalms  iv  17 
r  Matthew  vi  6  d  Hebrews  x  25  Acts  ii  42  e  Exodus 
x.v  6    /  1. Corinthians  xvi  1,  2     Acts  xx  7  Revelations  i  10 


49 

«  k 

ordering  their  common  affairs  aforehand,  do  not  only 
observe  an  holy  g  rest  all  the  day,  from  their  own 
works,  words  and  thoughts,  about  their  worldly  em- 
ployment and  recreations,  but  also  are  taken  up  the 
whole  time  in  the  public  and  private  exercises  of  his 
worship,  and  in  the  duties  h  of  necessity  and  mercy. 


chapter  xxm. — Of  Singing  of  Psalms,  <^r. 

We  believe  that  a  singing  the  praise  of  God,  is 
a  holy  ordinance  of  Christ,  and  not  a  part  of  natural 
religion,  or  a  moral  duty  only  ;  but  that  is  brought 
under  divine  institution,  it  being  enjoined  on  the 
Churches  of  Christ  to  sing  psalms,  hymns,  and  spi- 
rilual  songs ;  and  that  the  whole  church  in  their 
public  assemblies  (as  well  as  private  Christians) 
ought  to  b  sing  God's  praise?  according  to  the  best 
•ight  they  have  received.  Moreover,  it  was  prac- 
tised in  the  great  representative  church,  by  c  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  with  his  disciples,  after  he  had 
instituted  and  celebrated  the  sacred  ordinance  of  his 
holy  supper,  as  a  commemorative  token  of  redeem- 
ing  love. 

g  Isaiah  lviii  12  Nehemiah  xiii  15,22  J?  Mat- 
thew xii  1  —  13 

aActs  xvi  25  Ephesians  v  19  Colossians  iii  16 
^  Hebrews  ii  12  James  v  13  cMathew  x^vl  %® 
Mark  xiv26 


4 


50 


chapter  xxiv. — Of  Lawjul  Oaths  and  Vows. 

1.  A  lawful  oath  is  a  part  of  religious  worship, 
a  wherein  the  person  swearing  in  truth,  righteous- 
ness,  and  judgment,  solemnycalleth  God  to  witness 
what  he  sweareth  ,  b  and  to  judge  him  according  to 
the  truth  or  falseness  thereof. 

1.  The  name  of  God  only  is  that  by  which  men 
ought  to  swear  ;  and  therein  it  is  to  be  used  with  all 
holy  fear  and  reverence  ;  therefore  to  swear  vainly 
cr  rashly  by  that  glorious  and  dreadful  name,  or  to 
swear  at  all  by  any  other  thing,  is  sinful  and  to  be 
c  abhorred  ;  yet  as  in  matter  of  weight  and  moment, 
tor  confirmation  of  truth,  d  and  ending  all  strife,  an 
oath  is  warranted  by  the  word  of  God  ;  so  a  lawful 
oath  being  imposed,  e  by  lawful  authority,  in  such 
matters  ought  to  be  taken. 

3.  Whosoever  taketh  an  oath,  warranted  by  the 
word  of  God,  ought  duly  to  consider  the  weightiness 
of  so  solemn  an  act,  and  therein  to  avouch  no 
thing  but  what  he  knoweth  to  be  the  truth  ;  for 
that  by  rash,  false,  and  vain  oaths,  they  Lord  is  pro- 
voked, and  for  them  this  land  mourns. 

4.  An  oath  is  to  be  taken  in  the  plain  and  g  com- 
mon sense  of  the  words,  without  equivocation,  or 
mental  reservation. 

o-Exodus  xx  7  Deuteronomy  x  20  Jeremiah  iv 
v2  b  2  Chronicles  vi  22  23  c  Matthew  v  34—37 
James  v  12  d  Heprevvs  vi  16  2  Corinthians  i  23 
f  Nehemiah  xiii  25  /  Leviticus  xix  12  Jeremiah 
xxiii  10    s  Psa'mxxiv  4 


51 


5.  A  vow,  which  is  not  to  be  made  to  any  crea. 
ture.  but  to  God  alone,  h  is  to  be  made  and  perform- 
ed with  all  religious  care  and  faithfulness  but  popish 
monastical  viows,  i  of  perpetual  single  1  ife.  professed 
k  poverty,  and  regular  obedience,  are  so  far  from 
being  degrees  of  higher  perfection,  that  they  are  su- 
perstitious, Z  and  sinful  snares,  in  which  no  chris- 
tian may  entangle  himself. 


chapter  xxv.— Of  the  Civil  Magistrate, 

1.  God,  the  supreme  Lord,  and  king  of  all  the 
world,  hath  ordained  civil  a  magistrates  to  be  under 
him  over  the  people,  for  his  own  glory  and  the  pub. 
lie  good  ;  and  to  this  end  hath  armed  them  with  the 
power  of  the  sword,  for  defence  and  encouragement 
of  them  that  do  good,  and  for  the  punishment  of  evil 
doers. 

2.  It  is  lawful  for  christians  to  accept  and  execute 
the  office  of  a  magistrate,  when  called  thereunto  ;  in 
the  management  whereof,  as  they  ought  especially 
to  maintain  &  justice,  and  peace,  according-  to  the 
wholesome  laws  of  each  kingdom  and  common- 
wealth ;  so  for  that  end  they  may  lawfully  now  un- 
der the  New  Testament  c  wage  war  upon  just  and 
necessary  occasions. 

^  Psalm  lxxvi  11  Genesis  xxxiii  20—22  i  1  Co- 
rinthians vii  2,  9  k  Ephesians  iv  28  I  Matthew 
xix  11 

a  Romans  xii  1— -4  b  2  Samuel  xxii  3  Psalm 
82d  3,  4     c  Luke  iii  4 


52 

3.  Civil  Magistrates  being  set  up  by  Gid,  for  the 
ends  aforesaid,  subjection  in  all  lawful  things  com- 
manded by  them,  ought  to  be  yielded  by  us  in  the 
Lord,  not  only  for  wrath  d  but  for  conscience-sake  • 
and  we  ought  to  make  supplications  and  prayers  for 
kings,  and  all  that  are  in  authority  c  that  under  them 
we  may  live  a  quiet  and  peaceable  life,  in  all  godli- 
ness and  honesty. 


chapter  xxvi. — Of  Marriage. 

I.  Marriage  is  to  be  between  one  man,  and  one 
woman  ;  a  neithei  is  it  lawful  for  any  man  to  have 
more  than  one  wife,  nor  for  any  woman  to  have  more 
than  one  husband  at  the  same  time. 

*2.  Marriage  was  ordained  for  the  mutual  help  b  of 
husband  and  wife,  c  for  the  increase  of  mankind 
with  a  legitimate  issue,  and  for  d  preventing  of 
uncleanness. 

3.  It  is  lawful  for  e  all  sorts  of  people  to  marry, 
who  are  able  with  judgment  to  give  their  consent  ; 
yet  it  is  the  duty  of  christians  f  to  marry  in  the 
Lord;  and  therefore  such  as  profess  the  true  reli- 
gion shou'd  not  marry  with  infidels,  g  or  idolaters  ; 
neither  should  such  as  are  godly  be  unequally  yoked, 

d  Romans  xiii  5,  6,  7  1  Peter  ii  17  e  1  Timo. 
thy  ii  i.  2 

(i  Genesis  ii  24  Malachi  ii  15  Matthew  xix  5,  6 
'>  Genesis  ii  18  e  Genesis  i  28  d  \  Corinthians  vii 
2  9  e  Hebfpwsxjii  4  1  Timothy  iv  2  /l  Cor 
•vii  39     g  Nehemiah  xiii  25—27 


58 


by  marrying  with  such  as  are  wicked  in  their  life,  or 
maintain  damnable  heresy. 

4.  Marriage  ought  not  to  be  within  the  deg  ree  of 
consanguinity  h  or  affinity,  forbiden  in  the  word  ; 
nor  can  such  incestuous  marriage  ever  be  made  law- 
ful, by  any  law  of  man  or  consent  of  parties,  i  so  as 
those  persons  may  live  together  as  man  and  wife. 


chaft  er  xxvu. — Of  the  Church. 

1.  The  Catholic  or  universal  church,  which  with 
respect  to  the  internal  work  of  the  spirit  and  truth 
of  grace,  may  be  called  invisible,  consists  of  the 
whole  a  number  of  the  elect,  that  have  been,  are. 
or  shall  be  gathered,  into  one,  under  Christ,  the 
head  thereof;  and  is  the  spouse,  the  bqdy,  the 
fullness  of  him  that  filleth  all  in  all. 

2.  All  persons,  throughout  the  world,  professing 
the  faith  of  the  gospel,  and  obedience  unto  God,  by 
Christ,  according  unto  it,  not  destroying  tneir  own 
profession  by  any  errors,  everting  the  foundation,  or 
unholiness  of  conversation,  b  are  and  may  be  call- 
ed  visible  saints;  c  and  of  such  ought  all  partieu- 
Tar  congregations  to  be  constitued. 

i  Leviticus  xviii  i  Mark  vi  18  1  Corinthians 
v  1 

a  Hebrews  xii  23     Colossians   i    18     Ephesians  i 
10,  22,  23,  and  v  23,  27,  32     b  \   Cor    i  2     Acts  x 
26     c  Romans  i  7     Eph  i  20—22 


54 


3.  The  purest  churches  under  heaven  are  subject 
J  to  mixture,  and  error;  and  some  have  so  de- 
generated as  to  become  e  no  churches  of  Christ,  but 
.Synagogues  of  satan  ;  nevertheless  Christ  aL 
ways  hath  had,  and  ever  shall  have  a.f  kingdom  in 
this  world,  to  the  end  thereof,  of  such  as  believe  in 
him,  and  make  profession  of  his  name- 

4-  The  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  the  head  of  trie 
church,  in  whom  by  the  appointment  of  the  Father* 
g  all  power  for  the  calling,  institution,  order  or 
government  of  the  church,  is  invested  in  a  supreme 
mid'sovereign  manner,  neither  can  the  pope  of  Rome- 
:n  a;:y  sense  be  head  thereof,  but  is  h  Anti-chrrst, 
that  man  of  sin,  and  son  of  perdition,  that  exalteth 
himself  in  the  church  against  Christ,  and  ail  that  is 
hailed  God  ;  whom  the  Lord  shall  destroy  with  the* 
brightness  of  his  coming. 

6.  In  the  execution  of  his  power  wherewith  he 
is  so  intrusted,  the  Lord  Jesus  calleth,  out  of  the 
world  unto  himself,  through  the  ministry  of  his  word, 
by  his  spirit,  i  those  that  are  given  unto  him,  by  his 
Father,  that  they  may  walk  before  him  in  all  the  k 
ways  of  obedience,  which  he  proscribeth  to  them  in 
bis  word.  Those  thus  called,  ho  commanded  to 
walk  together  in  particular  societies,  or  I  churches. 
for  their  mutual  edification  and  the  due  performan- 
ce of  that  public  worship,  which  he  requireth  of 
them  in  the  world. 

d  1  Corinthians  v  Revelations  ii  and  iii  c  Reve- 
lations xviii  2  2  Thessalonians  ii  11.  12  /  lVLit- 
ihew  xvi  18  Psalm  72  1  17,  and  cii  28  Revelations 
xii  17  g  Colossians  i  18  Matthew  xxviii  18 — 20 
Ephe  iv  11.  12  h  2  Thessalonians  ii  2—9  *  John 
x  16,  and  xii  32  A- Matthew  xxviii  20  /Matthew 
xviii  15—20 


00 

6.  The  members  of  these  churches  are  ?n  saints 
by  calling,  visibly  manifesting  and  evidencing  in, 
and  by  their  profession  and  walking,  their  obedince 
unto  that  call  of  Chirist ;  and  do  willingly  consent 
to  walk  together  according  tc  the  appointment  cf 
Christ,  giving  up  themselves  to  the  Lord  and  one 
to  another,  by  the  will  of  God,  n  in  professed  sub- 
jection  to  the  ordinances  of  the  gospel. 

7.  To  each  of  these  churches  thus  gathered  accor- 
ding to  his  mind,  declared  in  his  word  he  hath  given 
all  that  c  power  and  authority,  which  is  anyway 
needful  for  their  carrying  on  that  order  in  worship 
and  discipline,  which  he  hath  instituted  for  them  to 
observe,  with  commands  and  rules,  for  the  due  and 
right  exerting  and  executing  of  that  power. 

8.  A  particular  church  gathered  and  completely 
organized  according  to  the  mind  of  Christ,  consists 
of  officers  and  members  ;  and  the  officers  appointee, 
by  Christ  to  be  chosen  and  set  apart  by  the  church 
so  called  and  gathered,  for  the  peculiar  admin  istra- 
tion  of  ordinances,  and  execution  of  power,  or  duty, 
which  he  intrusts  them  with,  or  calls  them  to,  to  be 
continued  to  the  end  of  the  world,  are  p  bishops, 
or  elders  and  deacons. 

9.  The  way  appointed  by  Chrst  for  the  calling 
of  any  person,  fitted  and  gifted  by  the  Holy  Spirit, 
tmto  the  office  of  Bishop,  or  elder,  in  the  church,  is. 
that  he  be  chosen  thereunto  by  the  common  q  suf- 
frage of  the  church  itself;  and  solemnly  set  apart 
by  fasting  and  prayer,  with   imposition  cf    hands  of 

m  Romans  i  7  1  Corinthians  i  2  n  Acts  ii  41, 42 
and  v  13,  14  2  Corinthians  ix  13  o  Matthew  xviii 
17,18  1  Corinthians  v  4,  5,  13  2  Corinthians  ii 
6—8  v  Acts  xx  17,  28  Philippians  i  1  q  Acts 
lit  23    See  the  original 


m 


the  r  eldership  of  the  church,  if  there  be^any  before 
constituted  therein  :  and  of  a  deacons  that  he  be  chos- 
en  by  the  like  suffrage,  and  set  apart  by  prayer,  and 
the  like  imposition  of  hands, 

10.  The  work  of  pastors  being  constantly  to  attend 
the  service  of  Christ,  in  his  churches, inthe  ministry 
of  the  word  and  prayer,  t  with  watching  for  their 
souls,  as  they  that  must  give  an  account  to  him  ;  it 
is  incumbent  on  the  churches  to  whom  they  minis- 
ter, not  only  to  give  them  all  due  respect,  u  but  also 
lo  communicate  to  them  of  all  their  good  things, 
according  to  their  ability,  so  as  they  may  have  a 
comfortable  supply,  without  being  themselves  x  en- 
tangled in  secular  affairs  ;  and  may  also  be  capable 
of  exercising  y  hospitality  towards  others  ;  and  this 
is  required  by  the  z  law  of  nature,  and  by  the  express 
order  of  our  Lord  Jesus,  who  hath  ordained,  that 
they  that  preach  the  gospel  should  live  of  the  gos- 
pel. 

11.  Although  it  be  incumbent  on  the  bishops  or 
pastors  of  the  churches,  to  be  instant  in  preaching 
the  word,  by  way  ofoffice,  yet  the  work  o»  preaching 
the  word  is  not  so  peculiarly  confined  to  them,  but 
that  others  also  a  gifted,  and  fitted  by  the  Holy  Spirit 
for  it,  and  approved  and  called  by  the  church,  may 
and  ought  to  perform    it. 

12.  As  all  believers  are  bound  to  join  themselves 
to  particular  churches,  when  and  where  they  have 
opportunity  so  to  do  ;  so  all  that  are  admitted  unto 
the  privilege  of  a  church,  are  also  b    under  the    cen- 

r  1  Timothy  iv  14  *  Acts  vi  3,  5,  6  i  Acts  vi  4 
Hebrews  xiii  17  "  I  Timothy  v  17,  18  Gnlatians 
vi  G,  7  x  2  Timothy  ii  4  y  1  Timothy  iii  2  *  1 
CorixS,  14  aActsxi  19—21  1  Peter  iv  10.  U 
b  1  Thes.  iv  14     2  Thes  iii  65  14,  15 


57 


-suies    and  government  thereof,  according  to  the  rule 
of  Christ. 

13.  No  church  members,  upon  any  offence  taken 
by  them,  haying  performed  their  duly  required  of 
them  towards  the  person  they  are  offended  at,  ought 
to  disturb  church  order,  or  absent  themselves  from 
the  assemblies  of  the  church,  or  administration  of 
any  ordinance,  upon  the  account  of  such  offence  at 
any  of  their  fellow. members, but  to  wait  upon  Christ, 
c  in  further  proceeding  of  ihe  church, 

14.  As  each  church,  and  all  the  members  of  if, 
are  bound  to  d  pray  continually,  for  the  good  ami 
prosperity  of  all  the  churches  of  Christ, in  all  places, 
and  upon  all  occasions,  and  to  further  every  one 
within  the.  bounds  of  their  places  and  callings, 
in  the  exercise  of  their  gifts  and  graces  ;  so  the 
churches,  when  planted  by  the  providence  of  God. 
as  they  enjoy  opportunity  and  advantage  for  it,  ought 
to  hold  3  communion  among  themselves  for  their 
peace,  increase  of  love  and  mutual  edification. 

15.  Cases  of  dicffiulfy  or  differences,  either  in 
point  of  doctrine  or  administration  :  wherein  either 
the  churches  in  general  are  concerned,  or  any  one 
church,  in  theirpeace,  union,  and  edification;  or  any 
member  or  members  of  any  church  are  injured,  in  or 
by  any  proceedings  in  censures  not  agreeable  to 
truth  and  order  ;  it  is  according  to  the  mind  of 
Christ,  that  many  churches  holding  communion  to- 
gether,  do  by  their  messengers  meet  to  consider  f 
and  give  their  advice  in  or  about  the  matter  in  dif- 
ference, to  be  reported  to  all  the  churches  concerned; 
howbeit  these  messengers     assembled,    are  not  in- 

c  Matthew  xviii  15 — 17  Ephesians  iv  2.  3  d  E- 
phesians  vi  18  Psalm  cx.xii  6  «  Romans  xvi  1.2 
3  John  8  —  10    /Acts  xv  2,  4,  9,  22,  23,  25 


m 


trusted  with  any  church-power  properly  so  called;  or 
with  any  jurisdiction  over  the  churches  themselves, 
to  exercise  any  censure  either  over  any^churches,  or 
persons  ;  org  to  impose  their  determination  on  the 
churches  or  officers  . 


chapter  xxviii— Of  the  Communion  of  Saintsr* 

1.  All  saints  that  are  united  to  Jesus  Christ, 
.heir  head,  by  his  Spirit,  and  faith,  although  they  are 
not  made  there  by  one  person  with,  him,  have  a  feU 
lowship  in  his  graces,  sufferings,  death,  resurrection 
and  glory ;  and  being  united  to  one  another  in  love 
they  b  have  communion  in  eachothers  gifts  and  gra*= 
ces,  and  are  obliged  to  the  performance  of  such  duties, 
public  and  private,  in  an  orderly  way,  c  as  to  con* 
duce  to  their  mutual  good,  both  in  the  inward  and 
outward  man. 

2.  Saints  by  profession,  are  bound  to  maintain  an 
holy  fellowship  and  communion  in  the  worship  of 
God,  and  in  performing  such  other  spiritual  ser- 
vices, d  as  tend  to  their  mutual  edification  ;  As  also 
in  relieving  eachother  in  e  outward    things,  accord- 

g  2.  Corinthians  i  24     1  John  iv  1 

a  1  John  i  3  John  i  16  Philippians  iii  10  Ro- 
mans vi  5,  6  h  Ephesians  iv  15J  16  1  Corinthians 
xii  7  and  iii  2-1 — 23  c  1  Thessalonians  v  1 1,  14 
Romans  i  12  1  John  iii  17,  18  Galatians  vi  10 
*  Hebrews  x  24. 25,  and  iii  12,  13     *  Acts  xi  2$,  30 


59 


ing  to  their  several  abiliiies,  and  necessities  ;  which 
communion,  according  to  the  rule  of  the  gospel  tho' 
especially  to  be  exercised  by  them,  in  the  relations 
wherein  they  stand,  whether  \nf  Families  or  g 
churches,  yet  as  God  offereth  opportunity,  is  to  be  ex- 
tended to  all  the  household  of  faith,  even  all  those 
who  in  every  place  calJ  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus;  nevertheless  their  communion  one  with  an- 
other as  saints,  doth  not  take  away  or  k  infringe  the 
title  or  property  which  each  man  hath  in  his  goods 
and  possessions* 


chapter  xxrx— 0/ Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper-; 

1.  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper,  are  ordinances 
of  positive  and  sovereign  institution,  appointed  by 
t-he  Lord  Jesus,  the  only  lawgiver,  to  be  continued 
in  his  church  a  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

2.  These  holy  appointments  are  to  be  administer- 
ed ay  those  only,  who  are  qualified,  and  thereunto 
called  according  b  to  the  commission  of  Christ. 

/  Ephesians-vi  4  g\  Corinthians  xii  14,  27  h 
Acts  v  4     Eph-esians  iv  23 

a  Matthew  xxviii  19,  2.0  1  Cor  xi  26  &  Mat  28th 
19     1  Cor  iv  1 


00 


chapter  xxx. — Of  Baptism. 

%\.  Baptism  is  an  ordinance  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment,  ordained  by  Jesus  Christ,  to  be  unto  the  party 
baptised,  a  sign  of  his  fellowship  with  him  in  his 
death  a  and  resurrection;  if  his  being  engrafted  in- 
to him  ;  of  b  remission  of  sins  :  and  of  his  c  giving 
up  himself  unto  God,  through  Jesus  Christ,  to  life 
and  walk  in  newness  of  life. 

2.  Those  who  do  actually  professed  repentance  to- 
wards  God,  faith  in,  and  obedience  to  our  Lord  Jesus 
are  the  only  proper  subjects  of  this  ordinnace. 

3.  The  outward  element,  to  be  used  in  this  ordi- 
nance, e  is  water,  wherein  the  party  is  to  be  baptized, 
in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and 
ot  the  Holy  Spirit. 

4.  Immersion,  or  dipping  of  the  person/  in  water 
is  necessary  to  the  due  administration  of  this  ordi- 
nance. 


chapter  xxxi. — Of  the  Lord's  supper. 

1.  The  Supper  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  was  instituted  by 
.urn,  the  same  night  wherein  he  was  betrayed,  to  be 

a  Romans  vi  2,  4,  5  Colossians  ii  12  Galatians 
i:i  27  1>  Mark  i  4  Acts  xxvi  16  c  Romans  vi  4 
d  Mark  xvi  16  Acts  viii  37,  38  e  Matthew  xxviii 
19,20     Acts  viii  38    /Mat  iii  16    John  iii  23 


61 


observed  in  his  churches  unto  the  end  ofthe  world,  for 
the  perpetual  remembrance,  and  showing-  forth  the 
sacrifice  of  himself  in  his  death,  a  confirmation  ofthe 
faith  of  believers  in  all  the  benefits  thereof,  their  spirit- 
ual nourishment  and  growth  in  him,  their  further  en- 
gagement in  and  to  all  duties  which  they  owe  unto 
him  \b  and  to'be  a  bond  and  pledge  of  their  commun- 
ion with  him  and  with  each  other. 

2..  In  this  ordinance,  Christ  is  not  offered  up  to  his  ■> 
Father,  nor  any  real  sacrifice  made  at  all  for  remission 
of  sin,  of  the  quick  or  dead  but  only  a  memorial  of 
that  c  one  offering  up  of  himself,  by  himself  upon  the 
cross,  once  for  all;  and  a  spiritual  oblation  of  all  k. 
possible  praise  unto  God  for  the  same.  So  that  the 
popish  sacrifice  of  the  mass,  as  they  call  it' is  most 
abominable  j  injurious  to  Christ's  own  and  only  sacri- 
fice, the  alone  propitiation  for  all  the  sins  ofthe  elect. 

3. The  Lord  Jesus  hath  in  this  ordinance,  appoint- 
ed his  ministers  to  pray,  and  bless  the  elements  of 
bread  and  wine,  and  thereby  to  set  them  apart  from  a 
common  to  an  holy  use,  and  to  take  and  break  the 
bread  ;  to  take  the  cup,  e  and,  they  communicating 
also  themselves,  to  give  both  to  the  communicants. 

4.  The  denial  of  the  cup  to  the  people,  worshipping 
the  elementSjthe  lifting  them  up  or  carrying  them  about 
for  adoration,  and  reserving  them  for  any  pretended 
religious  use,/ are  all  contrary  to  the  nature  of  this 
ordinance  and  to  the  institution  of  Christ. 

5.  The  outward  elements  in  this  ordinance,  duly 
set  apart  to  the  uses  ordained  by  Christ,  have  such 
relation  to  him  crucified,  as  that  truly,  although  in 
terms  used  figuratively,  they  are  sometimes  called   by 

a  I  Corinthians  xi  23 — 26      5  1  Corinihtans  x  16, 
17,  21     c  Hebrews  ix  25,  26,  28     d  1  Corinthians xt< 
24     Matthew  xxvi  26,  27     e  1  Corinthians  xi   23— 
26,  &c.    /  Matthew  xxvi  26—28,  and  xv  9     Exodus 
xx  4,  5 


62 

the  name  of  the  things  they  represent,  to-wit,the  g  body 
and  blood  of  Christ,  albeit  in  substance  and  uature, 
they  still  remain  truly  and  only  h  bread  and  wine 
as  they  were  before. 

6.  The  doctrine  which  maintains  a  change  of  the 
substance  of  bread  and  wine  into  the  substance 
ofChrist's  body  and  blood  commonly  called  tran- 
substantiation,  by  consecration  of  a  priest,  or  by  any 
other  way,  is  repugnant  not  to  Scripture  i  alone,  but 
even  to  common  sense  and  reason,  overthroweth  the  k 
nature  of  the  ordinance,and  hath  been,  and  is  the  cause 
of  manifold  superstition  ,  yea,of  gross  idolatries. 

7.  Worthy  receivers,  outwardly  partaking  of  the 
visible  elements  in  this  ordinance,  do  then  also  inward- 
ly, by  faith  really  and  indeed,  yet  not  carnally  and 
corporally  but  spiritually  receive  and  feed  upon  Christ 
crucified, Z  and  all  the  benefits  of  his  death  ;  the  body 
and  blood  of  Christ  beingthen  not  corporally  or  carnal- 
ly but  spiritually  present  to  the  faith  of  believers  in 
that  ordinance,  as  the  elements  themselves  are  to  their 
outward  senses. 

8.  All  ignorant  and  ungodly  persons,  as  they  are 
unfit  to  enjoy  communion  m  with  Christ,  so  are  they 
unworthy  ofthe  Lord's  table,  and  cannot,  without  great 
sin  against  him,  while  they  remain  such,  partake  of 
these  holy  mysteries  n  or  be  admitted  thereunto  :  yea 
whosoever  shall  receive  unworthily,  are  guilty  ofthe 
body  and  blood  of  the  Lord,  eating  and  drinking 
damnation  to  themselves. 

g  1  Corinthians  xi  27  M  Corinthians  xi  26,  28 
*  Acts  iii  21  Luke  xxiv  6,  39  k  I  Corinthians  xi 
24,  25  I  1  Corinthians  x  16  and  xi  23—26  m  2 
Corinthians  vi  14,  15  n  1  Corinthian?  xi  29  Mat- 
thew vii  6 


chapter  xxxn. — Of  the  State  of  Man  after   Death* 
and  of  the  Resurrection  of  the  Dead, 

1.  The  bodies  of  men  after  death  return  to  dust,  a 
and  see  corruption  :  but  their  souls,  which  neither  die 
nor  sleep,  having  an  immortal  subsistence,  immedi- 
ately b  return  to  God  who  gave  them:  the  souls  of  the 
righteous  then  being  made  perfect  in  holiness,  are  re- 
ceived into  paradise,  where  they  are  with  Christ,  and 
behold  the  face  of  God,  in  light  and  c  glory,  waiting 
for  the  full  redemption  of  their  bodies;  and  the  souls 
of  the  wicked  are  cast  into  hell,  where  they  remain  in 
torment  and  utter  darknesss  reserved  to  d  the  judgment 
of  the  great  day;  besides  these  two  places  for  souls 
separated  from  their  bodies,  the  scripture  acknowledg- 
ed none. 

2.  At  the  last  day,  such  of  the  saints  as  are  found 
alive  shall  not  sleep  but  be  e  changed  :  and  all  the 
dead  shall  be  reaised  up  with  the  selfsame  bodies  and 
/  none  other:  although  with  different  ^qualities;which 
shall  be  united  again  to  their  souls  forever. 

3.  The  bodies  of  the  unjust  shall,  by  the  power  of 
Christ,  be  raised  to  dishonor ;  the  bodies  of  the  just, 
by  his  Spirit,  unto  honor,  h  and  be  made  conformable 
to  his  own  glorious  body. 

a.  Genesis  iii  19  Acts  xii  39  b  Ecclesiastes  xii  7  c  Luke 
xxiii43  2  Corithians  v  1,  6,  8  Philippians  i  23  Hebrews 
xii  23  d;jude  i  7  2  Peter  ii  6,  9  Luke  xvi  23,  24  el 
Corinthians  xv  51,  52  1  Thessalonians  iv  17  /  Job  xix  26, 
27  #1  Corinthians  xv  42,  43  h  Acts  xxiv  15  John  v  28. 
29     Philippians  iii  21 


6r 


chapter  xxxin. — Of  the  last  Judgment, 

1.  God  hath  appointed  a  day  wherein  he  will 
judge  the  world  in  righteousness  by  a  Jesus  Christ  ; 
to  whom  all  power  and  judgment  is  given  of  the 
Father;  in  which  day  not  only  the  b  apostate  an- 
gels shall  be  judged,  but  likewise  all  persons  that 
have  lived  upon  the  earth,  shall  appear  before  the 
tribunal  of  Christ,  c  to  give  an  account  of  their 
thoughts,  words,  and  deeds,  and  to  receive  according 
to  what  they  have  done  in  the  body,  whether  good 
or  evil. 

2.  The  end  of  God's  appointing  this  day,  is  for  the 
manifestation  of  the  glory  of  his  mercy,  in  the  etern- 
al salvation  of  the  elect;  d  and  of  his  justice,  in 
the  eternal  damnation  of  the  reprobate  who  are  wick- 
ed and  disobedient;  for  then  shall  the  righteous  go 
into  everlasting  life,  and  receive  that  fullness  of  joy 
and  glory,  with  everlasting  reward,  in  the  presence 
e  of  the  Lord  ;  but  the  wicked  who  know  not  God. 
and  obey  not  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  shall  be  cast 
into  eternal  torments,  and/  punish  with  everlasting 
destruction,  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  and 
from  the  glory  of  his  power. 

3.  As  Christ  would  have  us  to  be  certainly  per- 
suaded that  there  shall  be  a  day  ofjudgment  both  g  to 
deter  all  men  from  sin,  and  for  the  greater  h  conso. 

a  Acts  xvii  31  John  v  22,27  b  1  Corinthians  vi  3 
Ju'de  6  c  2  Corinthians  v  10  Ecelesiastee  xii  14  Matthew 
xii  36  Romans  xvi  10,  12  Matthew  xxv  32,  &c  d  Ro- 
mans ix  22,  23  e  Matthew  xxv  21,  34  2  Timothy  iv  8 
f  Matthew^xxv  46  Mark  ix  48  2  Thessalonians  i  7—10 
g  2  Corinthians  v  10,  11     ft  2  These,  i  4,  6,  7 


65 


Jation  o(  the  godly,  in  their  adversity,  so  will  he  have 
that  day  unknown  to  men,  that  they  may  ahake  off  aii 
arnal  security,  and  be  always  watchful  because 
they  know  not  at  what  hour  the  i  Lord  will  come, 
and  may  ever  be  prepared  to  say,  k  come,  L&rd  Je- 
ms, come  quickly.     Amen, 

i  Mark   zlii    35—37      Luke  xii    35.   36      £  Revelations 
sxii  20 


■H"E    E-NT', 


CONTENTS, 


Chapter  i. — Of  the  Holy  Scriptures.          -          -          Page  & 

n__Of  God  aud  of  the  Holy  Trinity     -         -         -         -  1 3 

ni — Of  God's  Decrees             -          -          -          -          -  15 

iv — Of  Creation        -          -          -          -          -         -          -  17 

v — Of  Divine  Providence         -         -          -          -         -  18 

vi — Of  the  Fall  of  Man,  of   Sin,  and  of  the  punishment 

thereof 20 

vn — Of  God's  Covenant     -         -         -         -         -         -21 

vni — Of  Christ  the  Mediator             ...         -  23 

lx— Of  Free-VVill .  -          -  26 

x— Of  Effectual  Calling 27 

xi — Of  Justification             ------  29 

xn — Of  Adoption            -          -         -          -         -         -  31 

xin — Of  Sanctification        -  -  -  -  -  -31 

xiv — Of  Saving  Faith     ------  32 

xv — Of  Repentance  unto  life  and  salvation     -          -          -  34 

xvi — Of  Good   Works     ------  35 

xvn — Of  the  Perseverance  of  the  Saints          -          -          -  37 

xyhi — Of  the  assurance  of  grace  and  salvation              -  39 

xix— Of  the  Law  of  God 41 

xx — Of  the  gospel,  and  of  the  extent  of  the  grace  thereof  43 

xxi — Of  Christian  liberty,  and  liberty  of  conscience            -  45 

xxii — Of  Religious  worship,  and  the  Sabbath  day         -  46 

xxiii — Of  singing  of  Psalms  in  public  worship           -          -  49 

xxiv — Of  lawful  oaths  and  vows  50 

xxv — Of  tho  Civil  Mogistrate       -         -         -          -          -  51 

xxvi — Of  Marriage         ------  52 

xxvn — Of  the  Church         ------  53 

xxviii — Of  the  communion  of  saints  58 

xxix — Of  baptism  and  the  Lord's  supper         -          -         -  59 

xxx— Of  Baptism 60 

xxxi — Of  the  Lord's  Supper  ...  -  60 
xxxu— Of  the  state  of  man  after  death,  aud  of  tho   Res- 

urrection  of  the   dead            ...         -  63 

••xxiii— Of  tho  Last  Judgment             -         -         -         -  64 


A  SUMMARY 

OP 

CHURCH  DISCIPLINE ; 

V 

SHOWING  THE 

QUALIFICATIONS  AND  DUTIES 
OF  THE  OFFICERS  AND  MEMBERS 

OF  A 

GOSPEL  CHURCH, 

BY  THE  BAPTIST  ASSOCIATION  IN  CHARLESTON,  S.  C, 


For  this  Cause  left  I  thee  in  Crete,  that  thou  shouldest  set  in 
Order  the  Things  that  are  wanting.     Tit.  i.  5. 

See  that  thou  makest  all  things  according  to  the  Pattern  shewed 
to  thee  in  the  Mount.     Hebrews  y'm.  5. 


PREFACE, 


The  following  Summary  of  Church  Discipline,  being  designed 
ehifley  for  the  poor  and  unlearned,  is  contracted  into  a  very  nar- 
row compass,  and  exhibited  in  the  plainest  language.  This, 
with  whatever  defect  it  has,  will  require  the  candor  of  the 
more  learned  and  intelligent. 

To  remove,  in  some  measure,  the  ignorance  of  but  too  many 
church  members  about  discipline,  was  the  principal  motive  for 
engaging  in  this  work. 

We  meau  not  to  impose  our  sentiments  on  any  person  what- 
ever, or  to  anathematize  those  who  differ  from  us  in  opinion.-— 
The  word  of  God  and  no  human  composition,  is  the  standard, 
by  which  our  principles  and  conduct  must  be  tried. 

Nevertheless,  we  hope  this  small  piece  may  be  of  some  use,  for 
the  right  understaudding  of  God's  word,  with  regard  to  the  points 
treated  on  ;  aud  we  desire  that  the  Scriptures  referred  to  may 
be  carefully  consulted,  to  see  whether  these  things  be  true. 

Some  may  say,  "There  is  no  call  for  this  publication,  see- 
ing there  is  such  a  valuablle  treatise  ou  church -discipline,  pub- 
lished some  years  ago,  by  the  Philadelphia  Association." 

We  mean  not  to  depreciate  the  value  of  that  piece  ;  it  haa 
merited  much  from  the  Baptist  Churches  ;  but  it  is  out  of  print, 
and,  we  apprehend,  not  so  explicit  as  this  ;  besides,  some  things- 
therein  appear  to  us  exceptionable.  However,  we  have  borrowed 
many  hints  from  it ;  and  are  greatly  indebted  to  the  late  learned ," 
pious  and  judicious  Dr.  Gill,  for  what  is  taken  from  his  Ex<- 
position  and  Body  of  Divinity. 

May  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church,  bless  this  feeble  attempt 
to  promote  his  honor,  and  the  welfare  of  his  churches. 


A  SUMMARY 

OF    ' 

CHURCH-HISTORY. 


,  hapter  I -Of  a  true  and  orderly   Gospel-Church. 

§  1.  God  in  every  age  hath,  had,  has,  and  will 
have  a  church  or  people  in  the  "world,  consisting  pf 
a  greater  or  less  number,  and  subsisting  under  va- 
rious forms  and  diverse  circumstances,  Acts  vii  38. 
Eph.  iii  21. 

The  cathclic,  or  universal  church,  considered 
collectively  forms  one  complete  and  glorious  body. 
Cant,  vi  9,  called  Christ's  mystical  body,  of  which 
he  is  the  head,  Col.  i-  16.  Eph.  i.  22.  This  is  the 
general  assembly  and  church  of  the  first  born,  which 
are  written  in  Heaven,  Heb.  xii.  23. 

Under  the  Old  Testament  dispensation,  the  church 
was  pretty  much  confined  to  family  or  nation  :  but 
under  the  present  administration,  Christ  gathers  to 
himself  a  people  from  among  all  nations,  Matt,  xsviii 
19,  20.  And  being  thus  gathered,  by  the  power  of 
Christ  in  the  gospel,  it  becomes  their  duty  to  unite 
in  distinct  churches,  Acts  ii.  41,  47,  that  they  may 
walk  together,  in  all  the  commandments  and  ordinan- 
ces of  the  Lord  blameless.  Hence  we  find  that  un- 
der the  gospel,  churches  were  settled  wherever 
there  was  a  sufficient  number  of  converts  for  that 
purpose,  Rev.  ii.  and  iii.  chapters. 

A  particular  gospel  church,  consists  of  a  compa- 
ny of  sanits  incorporated  by  a  special  covenant,  in- 
to one  distinct  body,  and  meeting  together  in  one 
place,  for  the  enjoyment  of  fellowship  with  eachoth- 


erand  with  Christ  their  head,  in  all  his  institutions, 
lo  their  mutual  edification,  and  the  glory  of  God 
through  the  spirit,  2  Cor.  viii.  5.  Acts  ii.  1. 

§  2.  The  temple  of  the  Lord  is  not  to  be  built 
with  dead,  but  living  materials,  2  Pet.  ii.  5.  None 
have  a  right  to  church  membership,  but  such  as 
Christ  will  own  as  his  sincere  followers  at  the  last 
decisive  day,  whatever  pretensions  they  may  make 
to  an  interest  in  his  favor,  Matt.  vii.  22,  23.  Except 
a  man  be  born  again,  he  has  no  right  to  enter  into 
the  kingdom  of  God,  or  into  a  gospel  church,  John 
iii.  3;  Christ  is  a  living  head,  and  will  have  none 
but  living  members,  in  his  mystical  body,  John  xv 
6. 

§  3.  The  constitution  of  the  churches,  is  plainly 
supposed,  Acts  ii.  47.  Matt,  xviii.  17.  &c.  and  it  is 
necessary,  in  order  that  the  disciples  of  Christ 
may  enjoy  the  ordinances  of  the  Lord's  supper 
which  is  a  church- ordinance,  watch  over  one  an- 
other, warn  the  unruly,  and  lay  censures  on  disor* 
derly  and  impenitent  persons, 

The  scriptures  do  not  absolutely  determine  the 
number  of  persons  necessary  to  constitute  a  church  j 
but  as  our  Lord  has  said,  Where  two  or  three  arc 
gathered  together  in  my  i:ame,  there  am  I  in  the 
midst  of  them,  Matt,  xviii.  20.it  should  seem  as  if 
that  number  of  godly  persons  might,  at  least  in  some 
urgent  cases,  form  a  church  essential,  though  not  a 
church  complete,  or  duly  organized,  for  lack  of  offi- 
cers. Experience  has  sometimes  proved,  that  such 
small  beginnings  have  been  succeeded  with  a  large 
increase,  consistent  with  that  encouraging  promise, 
fsa.  lx.  22.  a  little  one  shall  become  a  thousand, 
?ind  a  small  one  a  strong  nation. 

A  gospel-church  is  not  national,  but  congregation- 
*4*     This  was  evidently  the    case   in  the    apostolic 


age  ;  hence  Paul  sent  a  general  epistle  to  the  sev- 
eral churches  in  Galatia,  Gal.  i.  1,  2.  and  our.  Lord 
himself  ordered  epistles  to  be  wrote  to  the  seven 
distinct  churches  in  Asia,  Rev.  ii.  and  iii.  chapters. 
With  regard  to  the  manner  of  constituting  a  church, 
it  must  be  by  the  consent,  and  desire,  of  the  par- 
ties concerned  ;  and  it  will  be  expedient,  to  call 
in  a  minister  or  ministers,  if  to  be  had,  to  assist  on 
that  important  occasion.  The  parties  being  met 
fasting,  the  solemnity  ought  t»  be  opened  by  fer- 
vent prayer  to  God,  Phil.  iv.  6.  next  a  sermon  sui- 
able  to  the  occasion  sbould  be  preached  ;  and  then, 
for  the  mutual  satisfaction  of  every  individual,  a 
strict  enquiry  should  be  made  into  their  experience 
of  a  work  of  grace  on  their  hearts,  their  soundness 
in  the  doctrines  of  faith  and  the  goodness  of  their 
lives  and  conversation  ;  unless,  as  members  of  chur- 
ches, they  come  honorably  recommended  for  that 
purpose.  "Being  thus  satisfied  wit'ii  each  others  gra- 
<c^s  and  qualifications.,  and  united  in  the  bond  of  love 
they  should  give  up  themselves  to  the  Lord,  and  to 
one  another  by  the  will  of  God,  2  Cor.  viii.  5.  by 
subcsribing  a  written  covenant  consistent  with  the 
word  of  God,  Tsa.  xliv.  o.  thereby  binding  and  ob- 
liging themselves  to  be  the  Lord's,  to  walk  in  his 
'commands  and  ordinances,  and  in  all  respects  to  be- 
have towards each  other  as  brethen,  agreeable  to 
ihe  spiritual  relation  they  now  enter  into. 

Being  thus  united  ;n  one  body,  under  Christ  their 
head,  they  become  and  are  to  be  deemed  a  church 
-essential,  founded  on  the  gospel  plan.  Let  them 
(then  ratify  their  engagements  by  a  participation 
of  the  Lord's  supper,    and  so     conclude  the  solemni- 

§  4.  A  church  thus  constituted,  has  the  keys,  or 
;iower  of  government,    within    itself,  having  Christ 


$ 


for  its  head,  aud  hts  law  for  its  rule.  It  has  the  pow- 
er aud  privilege  of  choosing  its  own  officers,  Acts 
yi.  3.  chap.  xiii.  2.  exercising  its  own  discipline, 
.Matt,  xviii.  17.  and  of  administering  the  word  and 
ordinances,  for  the  edification  and  comfort  of  its  mem- 
bers, Acts  ii.  46.  All  which,  with  every  other  act 
of  discipline,  each  distinct  church  may  exercise, 
without  being  subject  to  the  cognizance  of  any  other 
church,  presbytery,  synod,  or  council  whatever,  1 
Cor.  v.  1*2     Matt,  xviii.  17. 

Churches  being  vested  with  such  power,  ought  to 
u^e  it  with  prudence  ;  lest  they  dishonor  Christ  and 
his  cause,  or  wound  their  fellowmembers,  1  Cor.  x. 
31.  Rom.  xv.  2.  To  guard  against  which,  church 
business  should  be  debated  deliberatley,  with  humi- 
lity and  moderation, ;  that,  if  possible,  the  members 
may  be  unanimous  in  all  their  determinations.  Ne- 
vertheless, when  this  unanimity  cannot  be  attained, 
a  majority  of  the  male  members  may  determine,  and 
the  minority  ought  peaceably  to  submit.  This  ap- 
pears not  only  from  that  general  rule,  Eph.  v.  .21. 
submitting  yourselves  one  to  another  in  the  fear  of 
trod ;  but  more  clearly  from  2  Cor.  ii.  6.  sufficient: 
to  such  a  man  is  this  punishment,  which  was  inflict- 
ed of  many  :  Which  many  supposes  a  majority  ;  in 
the  original  it  is  wpo  ton  >pleionon,  by  the  more,  the 
greater,  or  major  part.  Which  plainly  points  out  a 
'^cision  by  a  majority. 

Female  members  may,  when  called  upon,  act  as 
witnneses  in  a  church  ;  and  when  aggrieved,  are  to 
make  known  their  ease,  either  in  person,  or  by  a 
brother  ;  and  must  have  a  proper  regard  paid  them  : 
])iit  they  are  excluded  from  all  share  of  rule,  or  jjov- 
<jrnment  in  the  chjrch.  1  Cor.  xiv.  31,  33.  1  Tim. 
ii.  II.  14- 


chapter  ii. —  Of  Churcli-Ojjicers. 

The  ordinary  officers  of  the  church,  and  the  only 
ones  now  existing,  are,  ministers,  and  deacons, 
Phil.  i.  1.  In  the  first  gospel-churches  there  were 
other  officers,  such  as  apostles,  prophets  and  evan- 
gelists, 1  Cor.  xii,  29.  Eph.  iv.  LI.  who  were  en- 
dowed  with  extraordinary  gifts,  which  were  then 
necessary  for  the  confirmation  of  the  gospel,  but 
are  since  become  extinct . 

■§  1.  Ministers  of  the  gospel,  who  are  frequently 
called  elders,  bishops,  pasters  and  teachers,  are  ap- 
pointed by  Christ  to  the  highest  office  in  the  church;; 
and  threfore  ne-ed  peculiar  qualifications  ;  such 
as  are  pointed  out,  1  Tim.  iii,  2 — 7.  and  Tit.  i.  5 
—10. 

As  they  have  the  charge  of  souls,  and  are  leaders 
in  the  house  of  God,  churches  cannot  be  too  careful 
i«  choosing  men  to  the  ministerial  function.  They 
ought  to  be  men  fearing  God,  being  born  again  of 
the  spirit,  sound  in  the  faith,  and  of  blameless  lives 
and  conversations,  as  becomeththe  gospel  of  Christ, 
having  fervent  desires  to  glorify  God,  and  save  souls, 
John  iii.  10.  2  Tun.  i,  13  1  Tim.  iii.  2  Rom.  ix. 
3.  chap-  10.  a. 

A  church  having  no  minister,  should  look  among 
its  own  members,  and  see  if  there  be  any  who  seem 
to  have  promising  gifis  and  .graces  for  that  great 
work.  ;if  such  a  one  is  found,  he  is  to  be  put  on 
private  trial  for  a  season  ;  when,  tm  finding  him 
promising,  and  that  they  are  edified  by  his  preach- 
ing, the}'-  may  call  him  to  preach  in  public.  After 
which,  if  it  should  appear  that  his  rod,  like  Aron-s 
buds,  blossoms  and  bears  fruit,  he  is  to  be  set  apart 
by  ordination;  that  he  may  perform  every  part  of 
the  sacred  function,  Acts  xiii.2.  3.      But  should   nc 


8 


such  person-  be  found  in  the  church,  ft  is  the  duly  of 
a  sister  church,  it  possible,  to  supply  them,  Cant,  vii, 
8.  And  if  any  person  who  is  a  member  of  anoth- 
er church  be  approved,  and  he  inclined  to  accept  a 
call  from  them,  he  must  first  become  a  member  with 
them  that  so  they  may  choose  him  from  among 
themselves,  see  Acts  i.  21.  Thus  were  deacons 
chosen,  Acts  vi«  3. 

The  candidate  having  accepted  the  call  of  the 
church,  they  proceed  to  his  ordination  ;  which  is  to 
be  done  in  the  followiug  manner,  viz.  If  there  is 
not  a  sufficent  presbytery  in  the  church,  neighbor- 
ing elders  are  to  be  called  and  authorized  to  per- 
form that  service.  The  day  is  set  apart  by  fas- 
ting and  prayer,  Acts.  sin.  2.  3.  chap,  14.  23. — ■ 
The  elders  [ministers]  being  satisfied  with  regard  to 
the  gifts,  graces,  soundness  of  principles  and  be- 
coming life  and  conversation  of  the  candidite  ;  the 
church  b^ing  met,  and  giving  their  suffrage  for  his 
ordina'.ion,  a  sermon  is  to  be  preached  on  the  oc- 
casion, and  he  declaring  his  willingness  and  inward 
call  to  take  upon  him  the  sacred  office,  2  Cor  ix. 
16.  a  public  confession  of  his  faith  will  be  required  : 
then  the  ministers  lay  their  hands  on  his  head,  and 
by  prayer  set  him  apart  to  the  great  work  of  the 
ministry:  This  done,  they  give  him  the  right  hand 
of  fellowship,  Gal.  K.  9.  and  then  one  ot  the  min-is- 
ers  publicly  gives  him  a  charge,  or  directory,  how 
to  behave  himself  in  the  house  of  God,  2  Tim.  iv.  5. 
The  solemnity  is  concluded  by  prayer,  signing,  and 
a  blessing  on  the  whole -congregation. 

A  minister,  being  ordained,  has  authority  fiom 
Christ  to  preach  the  gospel,  and  baptize  believers 
in  any  part  of  the  world,  where  God,  in  his  provi- 
dence, may  call  him  :  But  if  he  should  be  called  un- 
to, an  J  accent  the  postorial  charge  of  any  particular 


9 


church,  he  will  be   more    immediately  confined    to 
them,  and  they  to  him,  1  Pet.  v.  1,  2,  3. 

persons  thus  commissioned,  are  to  attend  to  their 
work  with  all  possible  engagements,  as  it  becomes 
these  who  have  the  charge  of  souls.  They  must 
give  themselves  up  1o  study,  prayer  and  meditation, 
1  Tim.  iv.  14,  15  16.  ;hat  they  may  be  workmen 
who  need  not  be  ashamed,  2  Tim.  ii.  15.  They 
must  be  instant  hi  season  and  out  of  season,  preach- 
ing the  pure  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  2  Tim.  i.  13", 
chapter  4.  2.  They  are  to  feed  the  Lord's  flock 
with  spiritual  bread,  Acts  xx.  28.  to  preach  with  the 
view  of  bringing  souls  to  Christ,  and  not  for  the 
sake  of  honor  or  filthy  lucre.  They  are  not  lo  lord 
ft  over  God's  heritage,  but  to  be  patient  and  tender- 
hearted, 2  Tim.  ii,  25.  They  are  to  watch  over  the 
the  flock,  comfort  the  feeblp -minded,  1  Thes.  v.  14. 
to  sound^  the  alarm  to  the  wicked  and  obstinanate, 
Ezek.  iii  17,  IS.  and  to  set  their  faces  like  flints  a- 
gainst  profaneness,  and  every  vice. 

They  should  often  visit  the  flock  committed  to 
their  charge,  to  know  the  state  of  their  sou's  that 
they  may  speak  a  word  in  season  to  them,  catechise 
the  youth,  instruct  the  ignorant,  pray  with  and 
for  them.  They  are  especially  to  visit  the  sick  and 
those  who  are  ortherwise  afflicted,  Ezek.  xxxiv.  4. 

They  ere  to  administer  the  ordinances  of  the  gos- 
pel, in  a  strict  conformity  to  the  woid  of  God.  Hefo- 
viii.  5.  to  preside  in  the  affairs  of  the  church,  and  see 
that  strict  discipline  is  duly  executed  therein.  Heb. 
xiii.  7.  17.  in  a  word,  they  are  to  be  examples  to 
the  flock,  in  word,  in  conversation,  in  charity,  in 
spirit,  in  faith,  in  frority,    1  Tim.  iv.  12. 

§2.  As  it  is  the  duly  of  ministeis.  more  particu 
larly  to  give  themselves  to  prayer,  and  to  the  minis- 
try of  the  word,  God  has  appointed  officers  to  be  em- 
ployed in  the  infenor  services    of  the  church,   «afl*€« 


10 


iy,   deacons,    whose   qualifications  are   pointed    out. 
Acts  vi.  3.  8rA  1  Tim.  iii.  8 — 13. 

Deacons  are  likewise  to  be  chosen  by  the  suffrage 
of  the  church,  from  among  its  own  members:  and, 
being  first  proved,  are  to  be  set  apart  to  that  office 
by  prayer  and  laying  of  hands,  Acts  vi.  2 — 6. 

The  office  of  deacon  is  to  relieve  the  minister 
from  the  secular  concerns  of  the  church  ;  hence  they 
are  called  Helps.  1  Cor.  xii.£7.  Their  business  is 
to  serve  tables  :  "The  table  of  the  Lord,  by  provid- 
ing the  bread  and  wine  for  it;  receiving  both  from 
the  ministers,  when  blessed,  and  distributing  them  to 
members;  and  collecting  from  them  tor  the  poor, 
and  the  defraying  the  charge;  and  observing  what 
members  are  missing  at  the  ordinance,  whom  they 
are  to  admonish;  and  if  their  admonitions  are  not 
regarded  to  report  it  to  the  church:  and  they  are 
likewise  to  serve  the  minister's  table,  by  taking  care 
that  he  has  a  regular  competency  for  his  support; 
and  it  belongs  to  them  to  stir  up  the  members  of  the 
church  to  their  duty  in  communicating  to  him; 
and  what  they  receive  of  them,  they  are  to  apply  to 
his  use:  And  also,  they  are  to  serve  the  poor's  ta- 
ble; to  whom  they  are  to  distribute  of  the  church's 
stock,  with  all  impartiality,  simplicity,  cheerfulness 
and  sympathy,"  Dr.  Gill  on  Acis  vi.  2.  By  the 
faithful  discharge  of  their  office,  they  shall  purchase 
to  themselves  a  good  degree,  and  great  boldness  in 
ihe  faith,  1  Tim.  iii.  13. 


11 


lhaptee  in.-— Of  Receiving   Persons  io    Church 
Membership. 

A  Chuhch  thus  founded  on  the  scripture  plan 
ought  to  observe  good  order,  as  in  all  other  cases. 
so  also  in  the  admission  of  members  into  their  com- 
munity. 

h  1-  Every  well  regulated  society  requires  qualifi- 
cations in  its  rnemberes  ;  much  more  should  a  church 
of  Jesus  Christ  be  careful  that  none  be  admitted  in 
to  its  communion,  but  such  as  are  possessed  of  those 
pre-requisites  pointed  out  in  scripture. 

They  must  be  truly  gracious  persons.  None  are 
fit  metenals  of  a  gospel  church,  without  having  first 
experienced  an  entire  change  of  nature.  Matt,  xviii.3. 
•Verily  I  say  unto  you,  except  ye  be  converted,  and 
become  as  little  children,  ye  shall  not  enter  into  the 
kingdom  of  heaven. :!  By  which  is  intended  a  gospel 
church-state,  as  trie  context  clearly  show.  To  the 
same  purpose  is  John  iii.  5.  Christ's  church  is  z 
spiritual  house,  built  up  of  lively  stones,  i.e.  of  liv- 
ing souls,  1  Peter  ii.  5.  By  nature  we  are  dead  in 
trespasses  and  sins,  and  Christ  doth  not  place  such 
dead  materials  in  his  spiritual  building  .  It  is  certain 
:he  Ephesian  church  was  not  composed  of  such  ma- 
terials. Eph,  ii.  1.  Tbemembers  of  the  church  a: 
Rome,  were  the  called  of  Jesus  Christ,  Rom.  i.  63 
called  out  of  darkness  into  the  Lord's  marvellous 
light.  1  Pet.  ii.  9,  called  to  be  saints,  Rom.  i.  17,  as 
were  the  members  of  the  church  at  Corinth,  1  Cor, 
:.  2.  and  the  churches  in  general  are  called  churches 
of  the  saints,  1  Cor-  xiv.  33.  The  members  of  the 
church  at  Colosse,  are  denominated  not  only  saints, 
but  faithful  brethren  in  Christ,  Col.  i.  2.  or  true  be- 
liversin  him:  none  but  such  have  a  right  to  ordi- 
nances. Acts  viii.  37.     Without   faith,  none   discern 


n 

ihe  Lord's  body  in  the  supper ;  consequently  must 
eat  and  drink  unworthily.  1  Cor.  xi.  29.  Indeed, 
without  faith,  it  is  impossible  to  please  God.  Heb. 
vi.  6. 

The  church  of.  England,  in  her  articles,  defines  a 
gospel  church  ua  congregation  of  faithful  men,  in 
which  the  pure  word  of  God  is  preached,  and  the 
sacraments  duly  administered."  Of  such  faithful 
men  or  believers  in  Christ  was  the  first  church  at 
Jerusalem  composed,  Acts  ii.  41,  and  v.  14.  Those 
whom  the  lord  added  to  the  church,  were  such  as 
should  be  saved,  Acts  ii.  47.  Let  those  look  to  it, 
who  make  the  church  of  Christ  a  harlot,  by  opening 
the  door  of  admission  so  wide  as  to  suffer  unbeliev- 
ers, unconverted  and  graceless  persons  to  croud  in- 
to it  without  control. 

They  should  be  persons  of  some  competent  knowl- 
edge of  divine  and  spiritual  things:  who  have  not 
only  knowledge  of  themselves,  and  of  their  lost  state 
by  nature,  and  of  the  way  of  salvation  by  Christ; 
but  have  some  degree  of  knowledge  of  God  in  his 
nature,  perfections,  and  works;  and  of  Christ  in  his 
person  as  the  son  of  God*  of  liis  proper  deity;  of 
his  incarnation ;  of  his  offices,  as  prophet,  priest 
ardking;  of  justification  by  his  righteousness;  par- 
don by  his  blood ;  satisfaction  by  his  sacrifice;  and 
of  his  prevalent  intercession:  and  also  of  the  spirit 
of  God;  his  person,  offices  and  operations;  and  of 
the  important  truths  of  the  gospel,  and  doctrines  of 
grace;  or  how  otherwise  should  the  church  be  the 
pillar  and  ground  of  truth? 

Their  lives  and  conversation  ought  to  be  such  as 
become  the  gospel  of  Christ.  Phi.  i.  27,  that  is 
holy,  just  and  upright,  Ps.  xv.  1,  2.  if  their  practice 
contradicts  their  profession,  they  are  not  to  be  ad« 
mitted  to  church-membership.  Holiness  becometh 
the  Lord's  house  forever,  Psalm  xciii.  5. 

They  ought  to  be  truly  baptised  in  water,  i.  e.  by 
immersion,  upon  a  profession    of  their  faith  ;  agreea- 


13 

ble  to  the  ancient  practice  of  John  the  Baptist  and 
the  apostles  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  Mat.  iii.  6 
John  iii.  23.  Rom.  6-  4.  Acts  8.  36—38.  It  is  allow- 
ed by  all,  that  baptism  is  essential  to  church  com- 
munion, and  ought  to  precede  it;  there  is  not  one 
instance  in  the  word  of  God  of  any  being  admitted 
without  it ;  the  three  thousand  penitents,  after  they 
had  gladly  received  the  word,  were  baptized  ;  and  then 
and  not  before,  were  added  to  the  church;  so  the  first 
church  at  Samaria  consisted  of  men  and  women  bap- 
tized by  Philip,  they  believing  what  he  said  concern- 
ing the  kingdom  of  God ;  And  Lydia,  and  her  house- 
hold, and  the  jailer  and  his,  being  baptized  upon  their 
faith,  laid  the  foundation  of  the  church  at  Pbilippi : 
And  the  church  at  Corinth  was  begun  with  persons 
who  hearing  the  word  believed  and  were  baptized; 
and  the  church  at  Ephesus  was  first  formed  by  some 
disciples  baptiz-d  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  Acts 
ii.  41.  and  viii,  12,  and  xvi.  15,33.  and  xviii.  8.  and 
xix.  5.  So  the  members  of  the  churches  at  Rome, 
Galatia  and  Colosse  were  baptized  persons,  Rom.  vi. 
3,  4.  Gal.  iii.  27.  Col  ii.  12. 

§  2  Persons,  making  application,  are  to  be  admitted 
into  to  the  communion  of  a  church,  by  the  common 
suffrage  of  its  members;  being  first  satisfied  that  they 
have  the  qualifications  laid  down  in  the  preceeding 
section  ;  for  which  purpose,  candidates  must  come  un- 
der examination  before  the  church;  and  if  it  should 
happen  that  they  do  not  give  satisfaction,  they 
should  be  set  aside,  until  a  more  satisfactory  profession 
is  made,  1  Tim.  vi.  12. 

It  may  be  that  one  or  two  of  the  membe.-s  ot  the 
church,  have  conceived  a  prejudice  against  a  person 
applying  for  fellowship;  in  this  case  they  are  to  be 
duly  heard,  and  if  their  objections  are  of  sufficient 
weight,  the  candidate  must  be  set  aside;  if  not.  the 
majority  of  voices  ought,  in  all  reason,  to  decide  it. — 
When  the  church  concludes,  that  the  person  applying 
for  membership,  may  be    admitted,  the   minister  is  to 


14 


acquaint  him  with  the  rules  and  orders-  of  God's 
house  ;  and  upon  his  promising-,  covenanting,  and  a- 
greeing  strictly  to  obeserve  them  as  assisted  by  the 
spirit  of  God,  the  minister,  in  behalf  of  the  church,  is- 
:o  give  him  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  ;  and  to  re- 
ceive him  as  a  member,  into  union  and  full  comma- 
nion  with  that  particular  church;  whereby  he  be- 
comes entitled  to  all  the  rights  and  privileges  thereof 
Go!,  ii.  16.  Rom.  xv.  7.  2  Cor.  viii.  5. 

If  a  member  should  desire  a  transient  or  occasional 
communion  in  any  church  to  which  he  doth  not  be- 
long, if  it  be  well  known  that  he  is  an  orderly  person 
he  may  be  admitted  to  the  Lord's  table;  but  should 
have  nothing  to  do  with  the  government  of  the  church, 
unless  his  advice  and  assistance  be  asked.  But  a  per- 
son unknown,  should  by  no  means  be  admitted  without 
a  satisfactory  letter  of  recommendation  from  the  church 
to  which  he  belongs. 

When  a  member  removes  his  residence,  nearer  to 
another  church  of  the  same  faith  and  order,  he  is 
bound  in  duty  to  procure  a  letter  of  dismission  from  • 
the  church  he  belongs  to,  Acts,  xviii  26.  And  the 
church  to  which  he  is  removed,  is  bound  in  duly  to 
receive  him  into  union  aud  full  commuuion;  unless  it 
should  appear,  that  he  is  either  immoral  in  his  life,  or 
unsound  in  his  principles.  But  let  it  be  remembered, 
that  he  continues  a  member  of  his  own  church,  from 
whence  he  came,  until  he  is  received  into  the  church 
to  which  he  is  dismissed.  Acts  ix.  26 — 28.  That^it  is 
the  duty  of  a  believer  to  give  himself  a  member  of  an 
orderly  church  nearest  to  his  place  of  residence>  or 
which  he  can  most  conveniently  attend  to,  appears 
plain  from  the  following  considerations;  (1)  by  the 
neglect  of  this  duty  he  will  deprive  himself  of  the  edifi- 
cation, comfort,  loving  instruction,  watchful  care,  and 
taithful  admonitions  of  his  fellow-members:  (2)  it 
would  give  room  to  suspect  he  was  impatient  of  that 
restraint,  which  every  humble  member  deems  his 
mercy;     (3)    it   would   seem   as    if  he    aimed   at 


15 


screening  himself  from  necessary  contributions,  or 
church  discipline  ;  (4)  such  a  neglect  cast  a  mani- 
fest contempt  on  the  church  and  ministry,  near  which 

li-e  resides  ;  (5)  was  this  conduct  to  be  allowed,  and 
become  general,  it  would  cause  great  confusion  a^ 
mong  the  churches  ;  and  as  such  a  practice  can  suit 
none  but  careless  and  disorderly  persons,  the  church 
they  belong  to  ought  to  admonish  and  if  they  still 
persist,  censure  them. 

The  same  reasons  hold  good,  against  those  who 
require  a  dismission  from  the  church  they  belong  to, 
unto  one  more  remote.  If  one  member  may  be  so 
dismissed,  another  may,  even  offices  of  the  church 
as  well  as  others.  To  dismiss  a  member  to  the 
world  at  large,  would  be  yet  more  preposterous  ;  int 
ought  never  to  be  done,  any  other  way  than  by  ex- 
communication. The  usual  plea  for  such  an  unrea- 
sonable request  is  either  that  they  cannot  prof;: 
der  such  a  minstery,  or  that  the  concerns  of  the 
church  are  not  properly  managed;  but  the  truth 
pricle  is  generally  at  the  bottom  of  such  desires  >  ■ 
an  humble  christian  will  esteem  others  better  than 
himself,  bear  with  the  infirmities  of  the  weak,  and 
pray  and  hope  to  mid  a  blessing  where  providence 
casts  his  lot. 

It  sometimes  happens,  that  an  orderly  member  is 
called  by  providence  to  remove,  but  (like  Ahral 
Heb.  xi.  8.)  he  knows  not  whither  ;  in  such  case,  the 
church  to  which  he  belongs,  ought  to  furnish  him 
with  a  letter  of  commendation,  permitting  him  to 
join  any  church  of  the  same  faith  and  order,  where 
providence  may  cast  his  lot,  Col.  iv.  10.  On  his  be- 
ing admitted  into  any  such  church,  he  is  dismissed 
from  the  church  of  which  he  was  a  member,  and 
notice  thereof  should  be  given  them  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, 

6 


16 


Members  who  have  been  suspended  or  excommu- 
nicated  b)T  the  church,  giving  satisfactory  evidence 
of  their  repentance,  are  to  be  cautioned  against  the 
evils  they  were  guilty  of;  and  on  their  promising, 
with  the  Lord's  assistance,  to  lead  orderly  lives  for 
the  future,  are  to  be  again  received  into  full  com- 
munion  with  the  church,  and  have  the  right  band  of 
fellowship  given  them,  Gal.  vi.  1.  2  Cor.  ii.  7,  8, 
but  they  are  not,  on  any  account,  to  be  re-baptized, 
Eph.  iv.  5. 


chapter  iv. — Of  the  duties  incumbent  on  Church- 
members. 

A  church  constituted  after  the  heavenly  pattern, 
is  as  a  city  set  on  a  hill ;  from  which  the  glories 
of  rich  and  free  grace  abundantly  shine,  Ps.  1.  3,  the 
True  members  of  it  have  the  light  of  the  gospel  shin- 
jng  in  their  hearts,  by  the  Holy  Ghost  ;  and  are  en- 
titled to  all  the  blessings  of  the  new  covenant,  Eph. 
i.  3,  and  being  thus  blessed,  their  faith  is  a  lively, 
active  faith,  not  only  purifying  their  hearts,  but 
working  by  love,  Gal.  v.  6,  whereby  they  become 
the  light  of  the  world,  Mat.  v.  14 — 16,  which  they 
make  apparent,  by  a  faithful  discharge  of  the  duties 
enjoned  them  by  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  great 
head  of  the  church,  Jam.  ii.  18. 

§1.  As  ministers  are  the  representatives  of  Christ, 
and  employed  by  him  in  a  work  that  is  both  useful 
and  honorable,  there  are  certain  duties,  incumbent 
on  all  members  of  churches  towards  them.  As  (1) 
they  owe  them  distinguishing  honor  and  reverence; 
and  are  to  hold  them  in  reputation  as  the  embassa- 
dors of  Christ,  Phil.  ii.  29.  2  Cor.  v.  20,  and  to  es- 
teem them  highly  for  their  work's  sake,  1  The.  v. 


17 


13*  (2)  they  are  to  contribute,  according  to  their 
respective  abilities,  towards  their  ministers  support, 
Gal.  vi.  6.  that  being  freed  as  much  as  possible, 
from  the  cares  of  life,  they  may  wholy  devote  them- 
selves to  the  duties  of  their  holy  function  ;  and  have 
it  in  their  power  to  use  hospitality,  1  Tim.  ill.  2, 
and  stretch  out  the  benevolent  hand  of  charity  to  the 
poor  in  distress,  Gal.  xx.  10.  which  maintenance 
ought  not  to  be  considered  as  a  gratuity,  but  as  a 
debi  due  to  their  minister.  The  law  of  nature  re- 
quires it,  1  Tim.  v.  18.  In  the  Lord's  grants  to 
Israel,  there  was  always  a  reserve  made  for  the 
priest;  under  the  gospel,  provisions  is  made  for  the 
support  of  ministers,  1  Cor.  ix«  7 — 14.  (3)  They 
are  to  obey  and  submit  themselves  to  their  minis- 
ters. Eph.  vi.  18 — 20.  (4)  They  ought  to  stand  by 
ar,d  assist  them  in  all  their  troubles  and  afflictions, 
2  Tim.  vi.  16.  Job  vi.  14.  (5)To  receive  no  accu- 
sation against  them  without  full  proof,  Tim.  v.  19. 
(6)  Nor  to  expose  their  infirmities,  Acts  xxiii.  5,  3. 
John  10  (7)  To  follow  their  example  as  far  as  they 
follow  Christ  2  Thes.  iii.  7.   1  Cor.  xi.  1. 

§  2  Deacons  being  in  an  honorable  office  in  the 
church,  the  members  are,  (1)  to  respect  and  esteem 
them,  as  being  employed  by  the  Lord  to  serve  in  the 
houshold  of  faith  ;  and  as  men  whom  (if  faithful) 
God  will  greatly  honor  and  bless,  1  Tim.  iii.  13. 
Matt.  xxv.  21.  (2)  To  submit  to  their  godly  and 
friendly  admonition,  1  Cor.  xvi.  16.  (3)  To  encouu 
age  them  in  their  office,  by  cheerful  and  liberal 
contributions  for  the  service  of  God's  house,  his 
ministers  and  poor,  2  Cor.  ix.  6,  7. 

§  3.  The  members  of  a  church  are  bound  in  duty 
(1)  to  love  all  men,  but  especially,  to  love  and  do 
good  to  them  who  are  of  the  household  of  faith,  Gal. 
vi.  10.  all  must  be  done  from    a   principle  of  love, 


18 

1  John  vl.  7—11.  John  xiii.  34,  35.  (2)  To  follow 
.titer  things  which  make  lor  peace,  Rom.  xiv.  19.  in 
order  to  which,  they  are  to  put  the  most  favorable? 
construction  on  words  and  actions  that  are  doubtful; 
1  Cor.  xiii.  7,  and  to  speak  no  evil,  one  of  another, 
James  iv.  11.  and  to  endeavor,  by  a  disinterested 
and  godly  behaviour,  to  sow  the  fruit  of  righteous- 
ness in  peace,  Jam.  iii.  18.  carefully  avoiding  whis- 
perings and  backbitings,  2  Cor.  xii.  20.  not  to  be 
busy  medlers  with  the  concerns  of  others,  2  Thess. 
iii.  J  I.  not  to  take  up  an  evil  roport  against  another. 
Acts  xxv.  16.  nor  do  any  thing  through  strife  and 
vain  glory,  Phi.  ii.  b.  [3]  To  endeavor  after  each 
other's  edification  and  growth  in  grace,  1  Hies.  v. 
11.  2  Pet.  iii.  18.  [4]  To  pray  for  each  other,  Jam. 
v.  16.  [5]  To  visit  each  other,  especially  when 
-ick  or  otherwise  afflicted,  Acts  xv«  36.  Jam.  i.  27. 
And  those  visits  ought  to  be  improved  for  edification  ; 
therefore  they  should  spend  the  time  in  praying  to- 
gether, Psa.  xxxiv.  3.  in  godly  conversation,  Matt. 
iii.  16.  exhorting  and  encouraging  each  other,  Heb* 
iii.  13.Psa.lv*  14.  warning  and  admonishing  one 
another,  1  Thess.  v.  14.  Rom.  xv,  14.  ingenuously 
confessing  their  faults  to  one  another,  so  far  as  chris- 
tian prudence  will  permit,  Jam.  v.  1G.  and  admin- 
istering all  possible  relief  to  the  needy  and  distressed, 
Jam.  ii.  15,  16.  [6]  To  avoid,  as  much  as  possible, 
^oing  to  law  with  each  other,  I  Cor.  vi.  1. — .7  [1\ 
To  prefer  marrying  among  themselves  as  far  as  it 
may  be  done  with  prudence,  Amos  iii.  3.  2  Cor.  vi. 
14.  [8]  And  to  labour  to  find  out  the  cause  of 
shyness  in  a  bi  other,  as  soon  as  it  is  discovered, 
Matt.  v.  23,  24. 

§  4.  The  duties  of  members  to  the  church  are,  [Tj, 
to  pray  for  its  peace  and  prosperity,  and  use  their 
ytmost  endeavours  to  promote  its  welfare,  Psa.  exxii. 


19 


G — 9.  [2]  Tliey  ought  carefully  to  attend  all  church 
meetings,  whether  for  public  worship  or  business. 
Heb,  x.  25.  Psa.  64,  4,  10.  [3]  It  is  their  duty  to 
submit  to  the  order  and  discipline  of  the  church,  so 
far  a?  it  is  consisent  with  the  word  of  God,  Deu.  v. 
1,  Heb.  xiii.  IT.  [4]  They  are  to  employ  their 
talents,  and  freely  bestow  of  their  substance  for  the 
service  of  the  church,  Rom.  xii.  6 — S.  Prov.  iii.  9. 
10.  [5]  They  must  carefully  avoid  jarrings,  conten- 
tions and  quarrels  in  the  church,  1  Cor.  x.  32.  Rom. 
ii.  8  [6]  They  must  not  divulge  any  of  the  church's 
secrets,  Gal.  iv.  12. 


chapter  v. — Of  Church-Censures* 

Rewards  and  penalties  give  sanction  to  law;  there- 
fore our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  the  only  supreme 
head  of  the  church,  in  giving  laws  and  institutions 
for  the  government  thereof,  hath  annexed  rewards 
ofgracetothe  faithful  and  obedient  observers  of 
them,  and  punishments  to  be  inflicted  on  the  rebel- 
lious, Heb.  xi.  6,  Rom.  ii.  6 — 9,  Rev.  xxii.  12. 

There  are  some  punishments  which  our  righteous 
law-giver  inflicts  more  immediately  with  his  own. 
hand  ;  either  by  his  providence  in  this  world,  or  by 
the  execution  of  divine  wrath  in  the  world  to  come. 
'ITiere  are  other  punishments  which  Christ,  by  hi? 
word,  authorized  his  church  to  inflict  on  its  rebel- 
lious and  unworthy  members  :  These  are  commonly 
calied  church  censures  which  differ  in  their  nature 
according  to  the  nature  and  degree  of  the  offence  ; 
and  may  be  denominated  rebuke,  suspension  and 
excommunication. 

§  1/  Rebuke  or  admonition  (the  lowest  degree  of 
church-censure)  is  a  reproving  an  offender,  point- 
ing out  the  offence,  charging  it  upon  the  conscience 


20 


advising  and  exhorting  him  to  repentance,  watchful- 
ness and  new  obedience  ;  and  praying  for  him  that 
he  maybe  reclaimed,  Tit.  i  13.  This  and  all  other 
church  censures,  must  be  administered  in  love  and 
tenderness,  Rev.  iii.  18  with  christian  prudence,  1 
Tim.  i.  2  a  sincere  aim  to  save  the  soul  from  death, 
Jam.  v.  19.20,  2  Cor.  xiii.  10,  Gal.  vi.  ],  without 
partiality,  1  Tim.v.21,and  for  a  caution  to  others, v.  20. 

A  member  becomes  worthy  of  rebuke,  (1)  when 
he  wounds  the  conscience  of  a  weak  brother,  by  the/ 
use  of  things  in  themselves  indifferent,  1  Cor.  viii. 
11.  12.  (2)  When  he  exposes  the  infirmatives  of  a 
brother  to  others,  1  Pet.  iv.  8  (3)  When  he  dis- 
quieteth  the  peace  of  the  brethren  about  matters  of 
indifference.  Rom.  xiv.  19 — 22.  (4)  When  he  in- 
du!ges  anger  against  a  brother,  without  a  just  cause, 
.Mat.  v.  22  [5]  when  he  is  contentious  about  im« 
scriptural  forms  and  fashions,  as  if  they  were  neces- 
sary to  be  used  in  the  church,  or  among  the  mem- 
bers. 1  Cor.  ix.  16.  [6]  When  he  neglects  private- 
ly to  admonish  or  reprove  a  brother  whom  he  knows 
to  be  guilty  of  sin,  Lev.  xix.  17.  [7]  When  he  neg- 
lects to  attend  church-meetings  for  business,  Acts 
vi.  2.  [S]  When  he  attends  other  places  of  wor- 
ship to  the  negiect  of  his  own,  Heb.  x.   25. 

§  2.  Suspension,  considered  as  a  church-censure, 
is  that  act  of  a  church  whereby  an  offending  mem- 
ber, being  found  guilty,  is  set  aside  from  office,  from 
the  Lord's  table,  and  from  the  liberty  of  judging  or 
voting  in  any  case.  By  this  act  the  staff-beauty  h 
broken,  but  not  the  staff-bands,  Zach.  xi.  10,  14, 
therefore  as  this  censure  doth  not  cut  off  from  union, 
but  only  from  communion  with  the  church,  the  sus- 
pended member  is  not  to  be  accounted  an  enennr. 
but  admonished  as  a  br.ither.  2  Thes.  iii.  15,  and 
upon  a  credible  prjfession  of  repentance,  the  censure 


21 


is  to  be  taken  off,  and  the  delinquent  restored  to  all 
the  privileges  of  the  church. 

This  censure  is  to  be  administered  in  case  of 
crimes  which  do  not  amount  so  high  as  to  deserve 
excommunication,  as  (1)  when  a  member  breaks 
the  peace  of  the  church  byjanglings  and  disputings, 
1  Tim.  i.  6,  vi.  5.  (2)  When  he  withdraws  from 
the  church  on  account  of  its  wholesome  discipline, 
notwithstanding  loving  admonitions  have  been  given 
him,  John  vi.  6  6,  Jude  19.  (3)  When  he  leaves  his 
place  at  the  Lord's  table,  for  the  sake  of  another 
member,  with  whom  he  is  offended,  and  neglects  to 
do  his  duty  by  him  as  directed,  Mat.  xviii.  15.  (4) 
When  he  broaches  unsound  heretical  principles, Tit, 
iii  10.  (5)  When  he  is  abusytatler  and  backbiter, 
Psa.  i.  19—21.  (6)  When  he,  through  sloth,  neg- 
lects the  necessary  duties  of  life,  1  Tim.  v.  8.  (7) 
When  he  has  committed  a  gross  crime,  but  gives 
some  tokens  of  repentance,  he  is  to  be  suspended, 
that  the  church  may  have  time  to  judge  of  his  sin- 
cerity, 1  John  iv.  1.  (8)  When  a  party  of  members, 
like  Korah  and  his  company,  break  through  their 
covenant  obligations,  and  attempt  to  set  up  for  them- 
selves, in  an  irregular  manner,  in  opposition  to  all 
the.  loving  persuasions  of  the  majority:  such  are  truce 
breakers,  and  despisers  of  those  that  are  good, 2  Tim. 
iii.  3.  [n  a  word,  all  practices  that  in  their  own  na- 
ture and  tendency,  are  destructive  of  the  reputation, 
peace  and  prosperity  of  the  church,  and  yet  appear 
not  to  be  passed  remedy,  merit  this  censure. 

§3.  As  excommunication  is,  on  all  hands,  ac- 
knowledged to  be  an  ordinance  of  Christ,  the  great 
head  of  the  church  ;  and  a  censure  in  its  own  na- 
ture, very  important,  awful  and  tremendous,  it  is 
highly  needful  that  churches  should  well  understand 
the  nature  of  it. 


-90 


Excommunication  is  a  censure  of  the  highest  -de- 
gree ;  it  is  a  judicial  act  of  the  church,  in  which,  by 
the  authority  of  Christ,  she  cuts  off  and  entirely  ex- 
cludes an  unworthy  msmber,  from  union  and  com- 
munion with  the  church  ;  and  from  all  the  rights 
and  privileges  thereof,  "ft  is  a  disfranchising  from 
all  the  immunities  of  a  fellow-citizen  with  the  saints, 
and  taking  from  him  a  place  and  a  name  in  the 
house  of  God." 

This  censure,  awful  as  it  is,  respects  only  the 
spiritual  concerns  of  man,  as  related  to  the  church  ; 
and  does  by  no  means  affect  his  temporal  estate,  or 
civil  affairs;  it  does  not  subject  him  to  fines,  im- 
prisonment or  death  ;  it  does  not  interfere  with  the 
business  of  the  civil  magistrate  ;  nor  does  it  break  in 
upon  the  natural  and  civil  relations  between  man  and 
wife,  parents  and  children,  masters  and  servants;  nor 
foibid  attendance  on  the  external  ministry  of  the  word 

To  deliver  an  offender  unto  Satan,  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  flesh,  1  Cor.  v.  5,  was  an  act  purely  a- 
postolical ;  for  it  was  not  the  act  of  the  church  ;  "nor 
is  this  a  form  of  excommunication  ;  nor  was  this 
phrase  ever  used  in  excommunicating  persons  by 
the  primitive  churches  ;  nor  ought  it  ever  to  be  used; 
it  is  what  no  man,  or  set  of  men,  have  power  to  do 
Bow,  since  the  ceasing  of  the  extraordinary  gifts  of 
the  spirit,  which  the  apostles  were  endowed  with  : 
who,  as  they  had  power  over  Satan  to  dispossess  him 
from  the  bodies  of  men,  so  to  deliver  up  the  bodies 
of  men  into  his  hands."  (Dr.  Gill  on  the  text.) — 
Hence  the  apostle  writing  to  Timothy,  on  a  similar 
case,  expresseth  it  as  done  by  himself,  and  not  by 
the  church,  1  Tim.  i.  'JO. 

The  act  of  excommunination  is  expressed  by  va- 
rious phrases  ;  as  by  avoding  familiar  conversation 
with  such,  Horn,  xvi.  17,  by    not  keeping  company 


23 


with  them,  1  Cor.  v.  9,  Eph.  v.  11,  by  not  eating 
with  them  at  the  Lord's  table,  1  Cor.  v.  11,  by  purg- 
ing out  from  the  church  the  old  leaven,  1  Cor.  v.  7, 
by  putting  away  the  wicked  from  among  them  1  Cor. 
v.  13,  by  withdrawing  from  disordiy  persons,  and 
by  cutting  them  off  from  fellowship  with  the  saints, 
2  Thess.  iii.  5,  Gal.  v.  12. 

The  subjects  of  this  ordinance  are,  members  who 
are  guilty  of  notorious  and  atrocious  crimes  ;  which 
are  so,  either  in  their  own  nature,  or  by  means  of 
sundry  aggravations.  There  are  some  crimes  so  high 
and  pernicious  in  their  own  nature,  as  to  call  for  a 
speedy  excommunication,  unless  the  most  evident 
marks  of  repentance  appear  in  the  offender,  as  [1] 
All  sins  that  are  against  the  letter  of  the  ten  com- 
mandments, Rom.  vii.  12,  Mat.  v.  IT.  [2]  All  that  call 
for  severe  corporal  punishment  from  human  laws  ; 
provided  those  laws  are  not  contrary  to  the  laws  of 
God.  Prov.  viii.  15,  Rom.  xiii.  1-4.1  Pet.  ii.i3,14.[3] 
All  such  sins  are  highly  scandalous  in  their  nature, 
and  expose  the  church  lo  contempt,  1  Tim.  v.  24,  I 
Cor.  v.  2.  We  find  black  catalogues  of  sins  which 
call  for  this  censure,  in  1  Cor.  v.  11.  and  vi.  9,  10. 
And  indeed  for  crimes  of  an  interior  nature,  when 
aggravated  by  a  comumacious  despising  the  authori- 
ty of  te  church  (after  the  more  gentle  censures  have 
been  used)  excommunication  ought  to  take  place. 

But  an  offender,  even  of  the  highest  rank,  who 
gives  clear,  evident  and  satisfactory  proofs  of  a  ture, 
sincere,  evangelical  repentance,  is  by  no  means  to  be 
excommunicate.  Doth  not  reason  itself  suggest, 
that  we  ought  to  forgive  those  who  repent,  and  those 
who  God  hath  forgiven  1  Christ,  our  great  pattern, 
did  so,  as  appears  in  the  case  of  the  woman  taken  in 
adultery,  John  viii.  11.  Peter  also  is  an  instance  ot 
Christ's  readiness  to  furgive  penitents  :  Peter  was  a 


24 


member  of  that  congregation,  in  the  midst  of  which 
Christ  sung  praises  to  his  faith,  Ps.  xxii,  22.  Peter 
fall  foully,  he  denied  his  master  with  oaths  and  curs. 
es,  a  horrid  crime  !  Does  Christ  immediately  cut  him 
off?  No  ;  but  admonished  him  by  a  look  ;  the  offender 
repented  ;  the  penitent  was  forgiven.  Let  churches 
follow  the  example  which  Christ  has  set  them. 

The  act  of  excommunication  may  not  be  perform- 
ed by  a  member  on  himself;  such  a  one,  says  Dr. 
Gill,  is  a  felo  de  se  ;  he  is,- in  effect,  a  self-murderer, 
As  consent  is  necessary  to  a  person's  coming  into 
the  church,  so  none  can  go  out  of  it  without  its  con- 
sent. To  atlemp  it,  is  to  break  covenant  with  the 
church  :  as  much  as  in  a  man  lies,  to  break  ug 
the  church.  By  the  same  rule  that  one  member  may 
thus  leave  the  church,  another  may,  the  paster  may, 
all  may;  the  tendency  of  which  conduct,  all  may  see 
is  confussion  and  destruction.  Those,  therefore,  wlx? 
are  guilty  of  it,  ought  to  be  lo<  ked  upon  as  truce- 
breakers,  proud,  arrogant,  dangerous  persons,  and 
to  be  dealt  with  as  such  :  and  they  should  be  avoid* 
ed  by  all  other  churches. 

Xo  man  has  a  right  of  himself  to  perform  this 
censure  :  it  is  a  punishment  inflicted  by  many,  2Cor« 
ii.  6.  But  this  great  censure  is  to  be  executed  "hf 
the  elders  [ministers]  of  churches,  with  the  consent 
of  tne  members  of  them  ;  f  >r  they  have  a  right  to 
do  this,  previous  to  their  having  elders,  and  when 
they  have  none,  as  to  receive  members,  so  to  expel 
them*  The  power  of  it  originally  lies  in  the  church  ; 
the  authority  of  executing  it  lies  in  the  elders,  with 
the  consent  and  by  the  order  of  the  church  ;  as  the 
directions  to  the  churches  concerning  this  matter, 
testify." 

To  proceed  regulary  in  this  solemn  business  the 
church  must  cite  an  accused-  member  to  appear,  eU 


25 

ther  at  a  statpd  church  meeting  of  business,  or  at  an 
occasional  meeting  for  that  purpose  ;  in  order  that 
he  ma}7  have  a  fair  trial,  and  an  opportunity  of  mak- 
ing his  defpnce  if  he  has  any  to  make.  The  meet- 
ing  is  opened  by  prayer  for  direction  ;  then  the  case 
is  impartially  examined  into,  and  tried  by  the  word 
of  God  ;  if  the  accused  member  is  found  guilty  of  a 
crime  deserving  excommunication,  he  is  not  to  be 
immediately  cut  off  (unless  it  be  some  extraordina- 
ry case)  but  admonished,  and  sometime  given  him 
for  repentance  and  for  the  church  to  mourn  over  him 
and  pray  for  him.  If  the  offender  continues  obsti- 
na?e,  and  appears  to  be  incorrigible,  the  church  is 
under  a  necessity  of  proceeding  to  the  execution  of 
the  great  censure  against  him. 

If  the  offence  be  private,  the  censure  may,  and  in 
some  cases  ought  to  be  laid  on  before  the  church  on- 
ly ]  but  if  the  crime  is  public,  and  very  notorious,  the 
honor  of  Christ  calls  for  the  censure  to  be  public, 
1  Tim.  v.  20.  Jude  22.  In  this  case,  the  church  ap- 
points the  day,  andsummons  the  guilty  member  to  at- 
tend  ;  the  minister  suits  his  sermon  to  the  occasion  ; 
after  which  he  prays  to  God  for  a  blessing  on  the  or- 
dinance to  be  administered,  and  thpn  proceeds  to  sum 
up  the  sentence  of  the  church  ;  lays  open  the  odious 
nature  of  the  crime  ;  the  dreadful  load  of  guilt,  which 
the  sin,  with  its  aggravations,  have  brought  on  the 
offender;  he  takes  notice  of  the  scandal  it  hasbrought 
On  religion,  hcv  dishonoring  to  God,  and  grievous 
to  the  church;  he  observes,  that  the  excommunica- 
ting act  is  not  intended  for  the  destruction  of  the  soul, 
but  is  used  as  the  last  remedy  for  the  recovery  oft  he 
offender,  and  as  a  caution  to  others.  Then,  by  the 
authority  ofthe  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  the  name  and 
behnlfnf  that  church,  he  cuts  off  and  seclude? 
the  offender  by  name,  from  union  and  communion 
with  the  church:  he  having  broke  his  covenant  with 
them,  they  exclude  him  from  the  privileges  of  a  mem- 


26 


"ber,  as  unworthey:;  yet  praying  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
who  is  the  good  shepherd,  to  restore  him,  by  giving 
him  unfeigned  repentance,  that  he  may  again  be  re- 
ceived into  the  sheep-fold. 

If  the  accused  member  should  obstinately  refuse  to 
appear  before  the  church,  when  cited  as  above,  it  is  to 
be  deemed  a  sign  of  guilt,  a  contempt  of  the  authority 
of  the  church,  and  an  aggravation  of  his  crime  ;  and 
process  of  the  church  against  him,  should  not  be -ob- 
structed on  account  of  his  absence. 

If  it  should  happen,  that  the  minister  of  the  church 
is  the  offender ;  or  that  the  church  is  without  a  minis- 
•.er  ;  in  either  of  these  cases,  they  ought  to  call  one 
from  a  sister-church,  to  assist  them  on  such  an  occa- 
sion ;  for,  as  has  been  observed,  the  auth  orily  of  exe- 
cuting this  censure  (as  well  as  all  other  ordinances  in 
general)  lies  in  the  elders. 

The  ends  to  be  ansAvered  by  this  solemn  ordinance, 
and  which  should  always  be  aimed  at  in  the  adminis- 
tration of  it,  are  [1]  the  glory  of  God,  which  is  the  ul- 
timate end  of  it;  for,  as  his  name  is  dishonored  by  the 
evil  practices,  or  principles  of  church-members,  so  this 
is  the  most  open  and  most  effectual  way  of  removing 
the  dishonor  that  is  brought  upon  it.  [2]  Another 
end  is,  to  purg;e  the  church,  and  preserve  it  from  in- 
fection ;  a  little  leaven  leavens  the  whole  lump,  and 
therefoie  the  old  leaven  must  be  purged  out,  that  the 
church  may  become  a  new  lump;  evil  communica- 
tions corrupts  good  manners,  and  therefore  evil  men, 
must  be  put  away  from  amoncr  the  saints,  1  Cor.  v.  7  13, 
Lepers  were  to  be  put  out  of  the  camp,  that  they  migh  t 
not  infect  others;  and  erroneous  persons,  whose  words 
do  eat  as  a  canker,  must  be  removed  from  the 
communion  of  churches.  [3]  A  church  of  Christ  is 
like  a  garden,  or  vineyard,  which,  if  not  taken  care 
of.  as  it  is  not,  when  this  ordinance  of  excommunica- 
tion is  neglected,  will  be  like  the  vineyard  of  the 
slothful,  over-run  with  thorns  and  nettles,  and  other 
weeds;   but  by  the    means  of  this,  it  is  cleared  of  the 


27 


weeds  of  immorality,  the  roots  of  false  doctrines 
eradicated,  and  v  khered  branches  gatheifd  and  casi 
cut.  [4j  The  good  of perons  excommunicated,  is  an- 
other end.  which  is  sometimes  effected  by  it.  God  bles- 
s;n^  his  own  institution  when  rightly  performed,  which 
is  of  edification,  and  not  destruction;  and  for  the  sa- 
ving of  the  souls  of  men,  who  are  hereby  brought  to 
shame  and  repentance  for  their  sins:  in  which  case 
they  are  to  be  received  again  with  all  love  and  tender- 
ness and  to  be  comforted  that  they  may  not  be  shal- 
lowed up  with  over  much  sorrow.  Jude  23.  2  Thess. 
iii.  15.    2  Cor.  ii.  7. 


cvapter  vi — Of  the  Association    of  Churches. 

As  the  communion  of  saints,    so  the  communi'  n 
churches,  is  a  desirable  blessing.     To  obtain  and  pro- 
mote which,  ought  lobe,  the  study  and  endeavour  ol  :.. 
the  people  of  God. 

Although  churches  formed  on  the  gospel-plan  are 
independent  of  each  otherrwith  regard  to  power  :  ye: 
not  so,  strictly  speaking,  with  regard  to  communion. 
For  as  saints  in  general,  hare  an  indisputable  right 
to  share  in  each  other's  gifts  and  graces;  so  have 
churches,  in  this  joint  capacity.  It  is  a  general 
-To  do  good,  and  to  communicate  forget  not,"  Heb. 
xiii.  16.  which  is  applicable,  in  a  particular  manner, 
to  churches,  as  such. 

In  order  the  more  amply  to  obtain  this  blessing  " 
communion;  there  ought  Jo  be  a  coaiesceing  or  uniting 
of  several  churches  into  one  bod}*,  so  far  as  their  local 
situation  and  other  circumstances  will  admit.  But  as  \\ 
is  impracticable  for  all  the  individual  members  thus  to 
associate  and  coalesce  together,  the  churches  should, 
each  respectively,  choose  and  delegate  some  of  the  most 
able,  pious  and  judicous  from  among  themselves,  and 
particularly  their  ministers  to    convene  at    such  times 


28 

and  places  as  maybe  thought  most  conducive  to  the 
great  end  proposed  ;  to  act  as  their  representatives  in 
the  general  assembly.  Their  expenses  ought  to  be 
defrayed  by  the  churches  who  send  them. 

It  appears  advisable  that  these  delegates,  at  their  first 
meeting,  should  in  a  formal  manner,  enter  into  cove- 
nant with  each  other,  as  the  representatives  of  the 
churche*,  for  the  promoting  Christ's  cause  in  general, 
and  the  interest  of  the  churches  they  represent  in  par- 
ticular. They  should  then  form  their  plan  of  opera- 
tions ;  and  fix  on  the  most  proper  time  and  place  for 
meeting  in  future.  Once  a  year  at  least,  they  ought 
to  meet,  at  a  place  the  most  centrical  and  convenient 
for  all  the  churches  in  confederation  to  attend. 

Although  such  a  conjunction  of  churches  is  not 
expressly  commanded  in  scripture;  yet  it  receives 
sufficient  countenence  and  authority  from  the  light  of 
nature,  and  the  general  laws  of  society.  But  more 
especially  from  a  precedent  established  by  apostolical 
authority:   recorded  Actsxv.  chap* 

The  association  thus  formed, is  a  respectable  body  as 
it  represents, not  a  city,  country  or  nation,  but  the 
churches  of  Jesus  Christ.  Yet  it  is  by  no  means  to  be 
deemed  a  superior  judicature  vested  with  coercive 
power,  or  authority  over  the  churches;  it  presumes 
not  to  impose  its  sentiments  on  its  constituents,  under 
pain  of  excommunication;  nor  doth  it  anathematize 
those  who  do  not  implicitly  submit  to  this  determina- 
tion :  which  would  be  nothing  Jess  than  spiritual 
tyranny  ,  and  better  comport  with  the  arbitrary  spirit 
of  popish  councils,  than  with  that  meekness,  which 
distinguishes  the  true  disciples  and  humble  followers  of 
the  lowly, yet  adorable  Jesus.  The  apostles,elders  and 
brethren,  who  composed  the  first  christian  council,  pre- 
sumed not  to  impose  their  conclusions  on  the  churches 
in  such  a  lordly  manner  ;  but  prefaced  their  determina- 
tions with  this  modest  prologue,  it  seemed  good  to  the 
Holy  Ghost,  and  to  us  to  lay  upon  you  no  greater  bur- 
den than  these  necessary  things,    Acts  xv.  28.     The 


29 

Baptist  Association,  therefore  arrogate  no  higher  title 
than  that  of  an  Advisory  Council, consistent  wiih  which 
epithet  it  ought  ever  to  act,  when  it  acts  at  all ;  with- 
out intruding  on  the  rights  of  independent  congrega- 
tional  churches;  o:  usurping  authority  over  them, 
Mat  xxiii.   10—12. 

Nevertheless,  the  association  hath  a  natural  and  un- 
alienable right  to  judge  for  itself,  what  churches  shall 
be  admitted  into  confederacy  with  it:  and  to  withdraw 
from  acts  of  communion  and  fellowship  with  any 
church,  so  admitted,  provided  such  ehurch  should 
obstinately  persist  in  holding  corrupt  principles,  or  in 
indulging  vicious  practices,  notwithstanding  all  proper 
endeavors  have  been  used  to  reclaim  it.  Eph.  v.  7, 
Rev.  xviii.  4. 

It  is  generally  agreed  ;  an  association  when  trans- 
acting business,  should  proceed  in  the  following  man- 
ner. [1]  Always  begin  and  end  each  session  by  prayer. 
[2]  Admit  none  as  messengers  but  such  as  come  rec- 
ommended by  letters,  well  authenticated,  from  the  chur- 
ches to  which  they  belong  or  from  whence  they  come. 
[2]  When  a  church  petitions  by  letter,  for  admission, 
if  approved  of,  the  moderator  is  to  inform  the  messen- 
gers that  their  request  is  granted,  and  desire  them  to 
take  their  seats.  [4]  All  who  have  anything  to  offer, 
are  to  rise  and  address  the  moderator.  [5]  VVhileone 
is  speaking,  the  rest  are  to  be  silent;  yet  all  have  an 
equal  right  to  speak  in  turn.  [6]  No  partiality,  or  res- 
pect of  persons  is  to  be  shown.  [7]  Every  matter 
should  be  canvassed  with  gravity,  modesty,  and  a  sin- 
cere aim  to  truth.  [8]  When  all  are  not  agreed,  th'e 
matter  may  be  put  to  the  vote,  and  a  majority  deter- 
mine. [9]  All  queries  regularly  sent  by  the  churches, 
should  be  answered,  if  possible.  [10]  Any  matter 
proposed,  relative  to  the  general  good  of  the  churches, 
should  be  seriously  attended  to.  [11]  Every  transac- 
tion should  be  conformable  to  the  revealed  will  of  God. 
[12]  A  circular  letter  should  be  written,  and  sent  to  all 
the  churches  in  confederation  containing  such  instruc- 


80 


tion,  information  and  advice,  as  may  be  thought  most' 
suitable;  and  with  which  should  be  sent  the  transac- 
tions of  the  association. 

The  benefits  arising  from  an  association  and  com- 
munion of  churches,  are  many;  in  general,  it  will 
tend  to  maintain  the  truth,  order  and  discipline  of  the 
gospel.  By  it  [1]  the  churches  may  have  such  doubts 
as  ari&e  amongst  them  cleared,  which  will  prevent 
disputes,  Acts  xv.  28,  29.  [2]  They  will  be  furnished 
with  salutary  counsel,  Prov.  xi.  14.  [3]  Those  church- 
es which  have  no  ministers,  may  obtain  occasional 
supplies,  Can.  viii.  8.  [4]  The  churches  will  be  more 
closely  united  in  promoting  the  cause  and  interest  of 
Christ.  [5]  A  member  who  is  aggrieved  through 
partiality,  or  any  o':her  wrongs  received  from  the 
church,  may  have  an  opportunity  of  applying  for  di- 
rection. [6j  A  godly  and  sound  ministry  will  be  en- 
couraged, while  a  ministry  that  is  unsound  and  ungod- 
ly, will  be  discountenanced.  [7]  There  will  be  a  re- 
ciprocal communication  of  their  gifts,  Phi.  iv.  15.  (8) 
Ministers  may  alternately  be  sent  out  to  preach  the 
gospel  to  these  who  are  destitute,  Gal.  ii  9.  (9)  A 
farge  party  may  draw  of?  from  the  church,  by  means 
of  an  intruding  minister  or  othervvays.and  the  aggriev- 
ed may  have  no  way  of  obtaining  redress  but  from  the 
Lissocintion.  (10)  A  church  may  become  heretical, 
with  which  its  godly  members  can  no  longer  commu- 
nicate; yet  can  obtain  no  relief  but  by  the  association. 
(11)  Contentions  may  arise  betwixt  sister  churches, 
which  the  association  is  most  likely  to  remove.  (12). 
The  churches  may  have  candidates  for  the  ministry 
properly  tried  by  the  association. 

These  and  other  advantages  arising  from  an  asso- 
ciation, must  induce  every  godly  church  to  desire  an 
union  with  such  a  body:  But  should  any  stand  off,  it 
would  argue  much  self-sufficiency,  Rev.  iii.  17,  and 
little  or  no  desire  after  the  unity  of  the  spirit,  Eph.  iv; 
3,  or  m-utual  edification,  1  Cor.  xii.  11  — 14. 

THE    END. 


THE 
BAPTIST  CATECHISM 


OR. 


A  BRIEF  INSTRUCTION 


m  THE 


PRINCIPLES  OF  THE    CHRISTIAN  RELIGION 


lGREJBABLY  to  the 


CONFESSION  OF  FAITH. 


^u*.  forth  by  upwards  of  an   Hundred  Congregations  in  Gres 
Britaiu.  July  3..  16S9  ;  adopted  by  the  General  Asso- 
ciation of  Philadelphia,  September  22,174*2.aud 
now   received  by  Churches  of  the  same 
Denomination?   in    most   of 
the  United  States. 


10  WHICH  ARE  ADDED 


THE  PROOFS  FROM  SCRIPTURE. 


m  ran  mkamr 


Having  a  desire  to  show  our  near  agreement  with  many  oth- 
er christiaus,  of  whom  we  have  great  esteem  we  some  years 
fcluce  put  forth  a^Coufession  of  our  Faith,  a' most  in  all  poinfs  the 
*ame  with  that  of  the  A~~embly  and  Savoy,  which  was  sub- 
scrilrd  by  the  elders  and  me  °engers  of  many  churches,  baptized 
on  profession  of  their  faith  ;  and  do  now  put  forth  a  short  ac- 
count of  christian  principles,  for  the  instruction  of  our  familes,  in 
most  things  agreeing  with  the  Shorter  Catechism  of  the  Assem- 
bly. Aud  this  we  were  the  rather  induced  to,  because  we  have 
commouly  made  use  of  that  catechism  in  our  familes,  and  the 
difference  being  not  much  it  will  be  more  easily  committed  to 
memory. 


THE 


Q.  1.  Who  is  the  first,  and  chiefest  being  ? 

A.  God  is  the  first  a  and  chiefest  being,  b 

Q.  2.  Ought  every  one  to  believe  there  is  a    God? 

A.  Everyone  ought  to  believe  there  is  a  God,c 
and  it  is  their  great  sin  and  folly  who  do  not.cZ 

Q.  3.  How  may  me  know  there  is  a  God  ? 

A  .  The  light  of  nature  in  man,  and  the   works  of 
God,  plainly  declare  there  is  a  God.e  but    his   word 
and  spirit  only  do  it  fully  and  effectually  for  the  sal- 
vation of  sinners,  f 

Q.  4,   What  is  the  word  of  God  ? 

A.  The  holy  scriptures  of  the  Old  and  Xew-Tes. 
tament  are  the  word  of  God. g  and  the  only  certain 
rule  of  faith  and  obedience.^ 

Q.  5.  May  all  men  make  use  of  the  holy  scripture  ? 

A.  Ail  men  are  not  only  permitted, i  but  com- 
manded and  exhorted  to  read, A-  hear  and  understand 
the  holy  scriptures./ 

Q,  6.  What  things  are  chiefly  contained  in  the 
holy  scriptures  ? 

A.  The  holy  scriptures  chiefly  contain  what  man 
ought  to  believe  concerning  God, ?n  and  what  duty 
God  requireth  of  man.7i 

a  Isaiah  xliv  6  b  Psalms  xcvii  9  c  Hebrews  xi 
G  d  Psalm  xiv  1  e  Romans  i  19,  20  Psalm  xix 
1,  2  /  I  Corinthians  ii  10  2  Timothy  iii  15  g 
John  x  34,  35  2  Timothy  iii  16  h  Ephesians  ii  20 
Isaiah  viii  20  i  Luke  xvi  29  *  Job  v  39  l  Acts 
viii  30  Mat  xv  10  m2Timil3  Act  xxi?  14  * 
Micah  vi    8  Ecclesiastes  xii  13 


Q.  7.  What  is  God  ? 

A.  God  is  a  spirit, o  infinite ,p  eternal,*?  and 
unchangeable,?'  in  his  being,s  wisdom, £  power,  u 
holiness, zr  justice,,?  goodness  and  truth.?/ 

Q  8.  Are  there  more  Gods  than  one  ? 

A.  There  is  but  one  only,  the  living  and  true 
God.z 

Q  9.  How  many  persons  are  there   in   the,  GqJ 
head? 

A.  There  are  three  persons  in  the  Godhead, 
the  Father,  the  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit,  and  these 
three  are  one  God  ;  the  same  in  essence,  equal  in, 
power  and  glory.ri 

Q  10.   What  are  the  decrees  of  God  ! 

A.  The  decres  of  God   are  his  eternal  purpose, 
according  to  the  counsel  of  his     will,   whereby,  for, 
his  own  glory,  he    hath     fore-ordained    whatsoever 
comes  to  pass.fr 

Q  11.  How  doth  God  execute  his  decrees  ? 

A.  God  executeth  his  decrees  in  the  works  of  ere. 
ation  and  providence. c 

Q.   12.   What  is  the  work  of  creation  ? 

A.  The  work  of  creation  is  God's  making  all 
things  of  nothing,  by  the  word  of  his  power,  in  lhe; 
.space  of  six  days,  and  all  very  good.rZ 

Q  13.   How  did  God  create  man? 

A.  God  created  man,  male,  and  female*  after 
his  own  image,  in  knowledge,  righteousuess,  and 
holiness,  with  dominion  over  the  creatures. e 

o  John  iv  24  p  Job  xi  7  q  Psalm  xc  2  r  James 
i  17  s  Exodus  iii  14  t  1  Tim  i  17  u  Psalm  clxvi* 
%  w  Rev.  iv  8  x  Psalm  Ixxxix  14  y  Exo  xxxiv  6, 
7  zDeutvi  4  Jeremiah  x  10  «1  John  v  6  Mat- 
thew xxviii  19  &Ephi4,  11  Rom  ix22  23  c  Rev 
iv  11  Dan  iv  35  d  Gen  i  1  Heb  xi  3  Gen  i  31 
*  Cxen.  i  27, 23.     Colossians  iii.  10-     Ephesians  iv.  24. 


Q,   14.  What  are  God's  works  of  providence  .' 

A.  God"s  works  of  providence  are,  his  most  holyf 
wise,"  and  powerful  preserving  h  and  governing  ail 
his  creatures  and  all  their  actions,  i 

Q.  15.  "What  special  act  of  providence  did  God  ex- 
ercise towards  man,  in  the  state  wherein  he  was 
created  ? 

A.  When  God  had  created  man.  he  entered  into  a 
covenant  of  life  with  him  upon  condition  of  perfect 
obedience,  forbidding  him  to  eat  ofthe  tree  of  know- 
ledge,  of  good  and  evil,  upon  pain  of  death. & 

Q,  16.  Did  our  first  parents  continue  in  that  es- 
tate wherein  they  were  created  ? 

A,  Our  first  parents  being  left  to  the  freedom  of 
their  own  will,  fell  from  the  estate  wherein  they 
were  created,  by  sinning  against  God.Z 

Q  17  What  is  sin  I 

A.  Sin  is  any  want  of  conformity  unto,  or  trans- 
gression of,  the  law  of  God. m 

Q  IS.  What  was  the  sin  whereby  our  first  pa- 
rents fell  from  the  state  wherein  they  were  created  ? 

A-  The  sin  whereby  our  first  parents  fell  from  the 
estate  wherein  they  were  created,  was  their  eating 
the  forbidden  fruit.?* 

Q  19.  Did  all  mankind  fall  in  Adam's  first  trans- 
gression  1 

A.  The  covenant  being  made  with  Adam,  not 
only  for  himself,  but  for  his  posterity,  all  mankind 
descending  from  him  by  ordinary  generation,  sinned 
in  him,  and  fell  with  him,  in  his  first  transgression. o 

Q  20.  Into  what  estate  did  the  fall  bring  mankind? 

/Psalm  c!xv  17  glsaiah  xxviii  29  h  Hebrew? 
i  3  i  Psalm  ciii  19  Matthew  x  19  £  Galatians  iii 
12  Genesis  ii  17  I  Ecclesiastes  vii  29  Rom  iii  23 
•'•'•'  1  John  iii  4  n  Gen  iii  6,  12.  13  o  Gen  ii  16,  17 
1  Cor  xv  21,  22     Romans  v  12' 


6 

A.  The  fall  brought  mankind  into  an  estate  of  sin 
and  misery./) 

Q  21.  Wherein  consists  the  sinfulness  of  that  es- 
tate whereinto  man  fell  ? 

A,  The  sinfulness  of  that  estate  whereinto  man 
fell  consists  in  the  guiit  of  Adam's  first  sin,  q  the 
want  of  original  righteousness, r  and  the  corruption 
of  his  whole  nature,  which  is  commonly  called  orig- 
snal  sin,s  togother  with  all  actual  transgressions 
which  proceeded  from  it./ 

Q  22  What  is  the  misery  of  that  estate  whereinto 
man  fell  ? 

A  All  mankind,  by  their  fall,  lost  communion 
with  God,u  are  under  his  wrath  to  and  curse,  x  and 
so  made  liable  to  all  the  miseries  in  this  life.?/ to 
death  itself?  and  to  the  pains  of  hell  forever,  a 

Q  23.  Did  God  leave  all  mankind  to  perish  in  the 
estate  of  sin  and  misery  ? 

A.  God  having,  out  of  his  mere  good  pleasure, 
from  all  eternity,  elected  some  to  everlasting  life, 5 
did  enter  into  a  covenant  of  grace,  to  deliver  them 
out  of  the  estate  of  sin  and  misery,  and  to  bring 
them  into  an  estate  of  salvation  by  a  redeemer.c 

Q  24.   Who  is  the  redeemer  of  God's  elect  ? 

A.  Tbeonly  redeemer  of  God's  elect  is  the  Lord 
Jesus  Chri.-t.r/  who  being  the  eternal  Son  ofGod,e 
:>ecame  manf  and  so  was  and  continueth  to  be 
God  and  man,  in  two  distinct  natures.^  and  one 
person  forever./j 

P  Ps  ii  5  Rom  v  IT,  18  q  Rom  v  19  r  Rom  iii 
10  *Jobxiv4  t  [sa  Ixvi  6  James  i  14  Mat  xv  19 
u  Gen  iii  8,  24  to  Eph  ii  3  x  Gil  iii  10  yJobxiv 
1  z  Rom  vi  23  a  Mat  xxv  40  Ps  ix  17  ft  2  Thes 
ii  13  c  Isa  IxixS  Romv21  ^G.IiiilS  I  Tim 
ii  5  f2  John  3  /John  i  14  g\  Tim  iii  16  Rom 
ix  5     ft  Colossians  ii  9     Hebrews  v ii  24 


Q,  25.  How  did  Christ,  being  the  Son  of  God  be- 
e  ome  man  ? 

A.  Christ  the  Son  of  God,  became  man,  by  taking 
to  himself  a  true  body,i  and  a  reasonable  soul,  k 
being  conceived  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  in 
the  womb  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  and  born  of  her,Z  yet 
without  sin. m 

Q,.  26  What  office  doth  Christ  execute  as  our  Re- 
deemer  ? 

A.  Christ  as  our  Redeemer  eiecuteth  the  offices 
of  a  prophet,?t  of  priest, o  and  of  a  king.p  both  in 
bis  estate  of  humiliation  and  exaltation. 

Q27.  How  doth  Christ  execute  the  office  of  a 
prophet  ? 

A.  Cbrist  executeth  the  office  of  a  prophet,  in  re- 
vealing to  us,£  by  his  word.r  and  spirit,*  the  will 
of  God  for  our  salvation. 

Q2  8.  How  doth  Christ  execute  the  office  of  a. 
priest  ? 

A.  Christ  executeth  the  ffice  of  a  priest,  in  b;s 
once  offering  up  of  himself  a  sacrifice  to  satisfy  di- 
\!ne  justice^  and  reconcile  us  lo  God,z*  and  in 
making  continual  intercession  for  us.zi- 

Q  29.  How  doth  Christ  execute  the  office  of  a 
king? 

A.  Christ  executeth  the  office  of  a  king  in  subdu- 
ing us  lo  himself.x1  in  ruling  y  and  defending  us.r 
and  in  restraining  a  and  conquering  all  his  and  out 
enemies,  b 

Q  30.    Wherein  did  Christ's  humiliation  consist   • 

t  Heb  ii  14,  and  x  5  b  John  xii  27  I  Luke  131, 
35  m  Heb  vi  15,  and  vii  20  n  Acts  iii  22  o  Heb 
v  6  p  Ps  ii  6  q  John  i  18  r  John  xv  15  s  John 
xiv26  /Hebix25  Eph  v  2  u  Heb  ii  17  w  Heb 
vii  25  x  Ps  ex  3  y  Mat  ii  6  z  Zach  ix  15  <*  Ps 
76.  10     b  1  Cor  xv  25 


A.     Christ's    humiliation    consisted  in  his  being 
born,  and  that  in  a  low  condition, c    made  under  the 
!aw,d    undergoing    the    miseries  of    this  life,e    the 
wrath  of  God.  f  and  the  cursed    death  of  the  cross,g 
,n  being  buried,  7?  and    •ontinuing  :  under  the  power 
;>f  death  for  a  time.i 
Q,  31.     Wherein  consisteth  Christ's  exaltation  ? 
A.  Christ  exaltaiion    consisteth    in       his    rising 
again  from  the  dead    on    the  third    day5£  in  ascend- 
ng  up  into  heaven,/  in  sitting    at    the  right  hand  of 
God  the  Father,?;?  and  in  coming  to  judge  the  world 
at  the  last  day.??. 

■>l  ;32.   How  are  we  made  partakers  of  the  redemp* 

obtained  by  Jesus  Christ? 
A.  We  are  made  partakers  of  the   redemption  ob 
:ained  by  Christ,  by  the  effectual  application  of  it  to 
is  n  by  his  Holy  Spirit.;; 

..  '?/.).   How  doth     the    Spirit    apply  to  us  the  re  • 
•  on  obtained  by  Christ  ? 
A.  The  Spirit  applielh    to  us    the  redemption  ob- , 
ained  by  Christ,  by     working    faith    in    us//    anci 
hereby  uniting  us  io  Chrisl;r  in    our    effect ual  ca! 

Qi  34.    What  is  effectual  calling  ? 
\.  Effectual  calling  is  the  work  oi    God's  Spirit..' 
.*. ,  erebv  convincing  us  of  our  sin  u  and  misery,#?en- 
ighteuiug  our  minds  in  the   knowledge     of  Christ,* 
and  renewing  our  wills,?/ he  doth     persuade  and  en- 
Luke  ii  7     d  Gal  iv  4     e  Isa  liii  3    /  Luke -xxii 
Mat  xxvii  4;')     g  Phil  ii  8     &  1  Cor  x,v  4     *  Mat 
xii    10     *  1  Cor  xv  4     /  Acts  i  11      m  Ephesians  i  20 
A 1  > i  k  x v i  19     n  Acts  xvri  SI     oGal    iv    5      p  Titus 
6     v  Eph  ii  3     r  Eph  iii  17      M  Cor  i  9     *2 
Ton  i  9     "  John  xvi  S     u>  Ac's  ii  37     x  Acts  24.  13 
f  Ezikitl  36.  20. 


able  u«e  to  embrace  Jesus  Christ,  revealed  as  ths 
Tree  gift  of  God  to  us.  in  the  gospel.; 

Q  35  What  benefits  do  they  that  are  efTectua^y 
called  panake  of  in'lhis  life? 

A.  They  that  are  effectually  called  do  in  this  life- 
partake  of  jusl-i5cation.rt  adoption. b  and  sanctifica- 
tion,c  and  the  several  benefits  which  in  this  life  do 
either  accompany  or  flow  from  them. cZ 

Q  36  What  is  justification  ? 

A.  Justification  is  an  act  of  God's  free  grace. e 
wherein  he  pardcne'.b  all  our  sins,  f  and  accepteth 
us  as  righteous  in  his  sighi.^  only  for  the  righteous- 
?iess  of  Christ  imputed  to  us,/*  and  received  by  faith 
alone,  z 

Q.  37  What  is  adoption  ? 

A.  Adoption  is  an  act  ofGod's  ivee  grace, A-  where- 
by we  are^received  into  the  number,  and  have  a 
right  to  all  the  privileges  of  the  sons  of  God.Z 

Q,  What  is  sanctification  ? 

A.  Sanctification  is  the  work  of  God's  uee  grace, ?« 
whereby  we  are  renewed  in  the  whole  man  after 
the  image  of  God.?2  and  are  enabled -more  and  more 
to  die  unto  sin  and  live   unto  righteousness. o 

Q,  39  What  arc  the  benefits  which  in  this  life  do 
accompany  or  flow  from  justification;  adoption  ^and 
sanctification. 

A.  The  benefits  T.hich  in  this  life  do  accompany 
or  flow  from  justification,  adoption  and  sanctifica- 
tion, are   assurance  of  God's    love,    oeace    of  con* 


z  John  vi  44.  43  a  Rom  viii  30  8  Gal  iii  26  *  i 
Cor  vi  11  d  1  Cor  \  50  e  Rom  iii  -24  /Enh  i  7 
-  2  Cor  v  21  h  Rom  iv  6  '  -Rom  iii  22  Phil  iii  9 
k  1  John  iii  i  '  John  i  12- Rom  viii  1*7  m  2  Thea 
li  13     n  Enhiv23,  24     o  Rom  vi  11 


10 


science,;?  joy  in  the  Holy  spirit,*?  increase  of  grace,  f 
and  perseverance    therein  to  the  end. s 

Q,  40  What  benefits  do  believers  receive  from 
Christ  at  their  death  ? 

A.  the  souls  of  believers  are  at  their  death  made 
perfect  in  holiness,£  and  do  immediately  pass  into 
glory,w  and  their  bodies  being  still  united  to  Christ,^ 
do  rest  in  their  graves  x  till  the  resurrection.^ 

Q,  41.  What  benefit  do  believers  receive  at  the 
resurrection  ? 

A.  At  the  resurrection,  believers  being  raised  up 
in  glory,  z  shall  be  openly  acknowledge  and  ac- 
quitted in  the  day  of  judgement,  a  and  made  perfect- 
ly blessed  both  in  soul  and  body  in  the  full  enjoy- 
ment of  God  b  to  all  eternity.*? 

Q,  42.  But  what  shall  be  done  to  the  wicked  at 
their  death  ? 

A.  The  souls  of  the  wicked  shall  at  their  death  be 
cast  into  the  torments  of  hell,<-Z  and  their  bodies  lie 
in  their  graves  till  the  resurrection  and  judgment 
of  the  great  day.e 

Q,  43.  What  shall  be  done  to  the  wicked  at  the 
day  of  judgment  ? 

A.  At  the  day  of  judgment  the  bodies  of  the  wick- 
ed being  raised  out  of  their  graves,  shall  be  sentenc- 
ed together  wilh  their  sou!s  to  unspeakable  torments, 
with  the  devil  and  his  angels  forever./" 

Q,  44.  What  is  the  duty  which  God  requirelh  of 
man  ? 


/)  Rom  v  1,  2,  5  q  Rom  xiv  7  r  Prov  iv  18*1 
Peter  i  5  t  Heb  xii  23  «  Phil  i  23  2  Cor  v  8  w 
1  ThesivH  x  Isa  lvii  2  yJobxix  26  *  1  Cor 
xv  43  a  Mat  x  32  Acts  iii  19  b  I  John  iii  2  c  1 
Thes  iv  17  d  Luke  xvi  22;  23,  24  e  Ps  xlix  14  f 
Dan  xii  2     John  v  28,  29     2  Thes  i  9     Mat  xxv  41 


11 

A.  The  duly  which  God  requireth  of  man,  is  obe- 
dience to  his  revealed  will.j 

Q,  45.  What  did  God  at  first  reveal  to  man  for 
the  rule  of  his  obedience  ? 

A.  The  rule  which  God  at  first  revealed  to  man 
for  his  obedience  was  the  moral  law./i 

Q,  46.  Where  is  the  moral  law  summarily  com- 
prehended  ? 

A.  The  moral  law  is  summarily  comprehended  in 
the  ten  commandments. i 

Q,  47.  What  is  the  sum  of  the  ten  commandments? 

A.  The  sum  of  the  ten  commandments  is,  to  love 
the  Lord  our  God  with  all  our  heart,  with  all  our 
soul,  with  all  our  strength,  and  with  all  our  mind  ; 
and  our  neighbour  as  ourselves-A; 

Q,  48.  What  is  the  preface  to  the  ten  command- 
ments ? 

A.  The  preface  to  the  ten  commandments  is  in 
these  words  :  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God,  which  have 
brought  thee  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  out  of  the 
house  of  bondage. m 

Q.  49.  What  doth  the  preface  to  the  ten  com- 
mandments teach  us  ? 

A.  The  preface  to  the  ten  commandments  teach- 
es us,  that  because  God  is  the  Lord,  and  our  God 
and  Redeemer,  therefore  we  are  bound  to  keep  all 
his  commandments. n 

Q.  50.    Which  is  the  first  commandment  ? 

A.  The  first  commandment  is,  Thou  shalt  have 
no  others  Gods  before  me.o 

Q..  51.  What  is  required  in  the  first  command- 
ment  ? 

A.  The  first  commandment    requireth  us  to  know 

g  Micah  vi  9  Psalm  cxix  4  h  Romans  ii  14,  15  i  Dent 
x  4  Mat  xix  17  k  Mat  xxii  37,  38,  39,  40  m  Exo  xx  2 
n  Deut  xi  1     Lulei  74,  75     o  Exo  xx  3 


12 

and  acknowledge  God  to  be  the  only  true  God,  and 
our  God,p  and  to  worship  and  glorify  him  according- 

Q,  52.  What  is  forbidden  in  the  first  command- 
ment ? 

A.  The  first  commandment  forbiddeth  the  deny^ 
ing  r  or  not  worshipping  the  true  God,  as  God,  s 
and  our  God  \t  and  the  giving  that  worship  and 
glory  to  any  other^'which  is  due  unto  him  alone. u 

Q,  53.  What  are  we  especially  taught  by  these 
words  [before  me]  in  the  first  commandment  ? 

A.  These'  words  [before  me]  in  the  first  com- 
mandment, teach  us,  that  God,  who  secth  all  things, 
Taketh  notice  of,  and  is  much  displeased  with  the 
sin  of  having  any  other  God.zr 

Q,  54.  Which  is  the  second  commandment? 

A.  The  second  commandment  is,  Thou  shalt  not 
make  unto  ihee  any  graven  image,  or  any  likeness 
of  any  ihiiig  that  is  inf'heaven  above,  or  that  is  in  the 
earth  beneath,  or  that  is  in  the  water  under  the 
earth,  Thou  shalt  not  bow  down  thyself  to  them, 
nor  serve  them  :  for<  I  the  Lord  thy  God, am  a 'jeal- 
ous God,  visiting  the  iniquity  of  the  fathers  upon  the 
children,  unto  the  third  and  fourth  generation  of  them 
that  hate  me  ;  and' showing  mercy  unto  thousands 
of  them  that  love  me,  and  keep  my  commandments, a? 

Q,  55.  What  is  required  in  the  second  cammand- 
meat  ? 

A.  The  second  cammandment  requirelh  'the  re- 
ceiving, observing,  keeping  pure  and  entire,  all 
such  reHgiousHvorship  and  ordinances;  as  God  hath 
appointed  in  his  word.?/ 

p  i  Chron  xxviii  9  Dent  xxvi  i'7  q  Ps  xxix  2  Mat  iv  10 
r  Joshua  xxiv-27  *  Rom  i  20,  21  t  Isa  lix  13  u  Rom  i  2f> 
h-  Psaxliv  30,-21  x  Exo  xx  4,  5,  6  y  Dent  xxxii  46  Mat 
xxviii  20     Deut  xii  32 


IS 


Q,  56...  What  is  forbidden  in  the  second  command- 
ment? 

A.  The  second  commandment  forbiddeth  the  wor- 
shipping of  God  by  images,-  or  any  other  way  not 
appointed  in  his  word. a 

Q,  57.  What  are  the  reasons  annexed  to  the  sec- 
ond commandment? 

A.  The  reasons  annexed  to  the  second  command- 
ment, are  God's  sovereignty  over  us,&  his  propriety 
in  us,c  and  the  zeal, he  hath  to  his  own  worship. d 

Q,  58.  Which  is  the  third  commandment? 

A.  The  third  commandment  is,  Thou  shait  not 
take  the  name  of  the  Lord  thy  God  in  vain;  for  the 
Lord  will  not  hold  him  guiltless  that  taketh  his  name 
in  vain  e 

Q,  59.  What  is  required  in  the  third  command-, 
ment? 

A,  The  third  commandment  requireth  the  holy 
and  reverent  use  of  God's  name,/  titles,^  attributes,'* 
ordinances. i  word,&  and  works.? 

Q.  60.  What  is  forbidden  in  the,  third  command- 
ment? 

A.  The  third  commandment  forbiddeth  all  profan- 
ing or  abusing  of  any  thing  whereby  God  maketh 
himself  known."* 

Q.  61.  What  is  the  reason  annexed  to  the.  third 
commandment? 

A.  The  reason  annexed  to  the  third  command- 
ment is,  that  however  the  breakers  of  this  command- 
ment may  escape  punishment  from  men,  yet  the  Lord 
our  God  will  not  suffer  them  to  escape  his  righteous 
judgment."  . 


z  Deut  iv  15,  16  a  Col  ii  21,  22-  d  Psa  xcv  2,  3  c  Psa" 
xlv  11  f/Exnxxxivl4  eExoxx7  /Matvi  9  Psa  ex i  9 
g  Deut  xxviii  58  Psa  Ixviii  4  h  Dent  xxxii  3,  4  i  Eccl  v  1 
ftrPsa  exxxviii  2  I  Job  xxxvi  24  m  Malachi  i6,  7  n  Dent 
Wax  59     Malachi  ii  2 


14 


Q,  62.  Which  is  the  fourth  commandment? 

A.  The  fourth  commandmant  is,  Remember  th« 
Sabbath  day  to  keep  it  holy.  Six  days  shalt  thou  la- 
bor and  do  all  thy  work,  but  on  the  seventh  day  is  the 
Sabbath  of  the  Lord  thy  God;  in  it  thou  shalt  not 
do  any  work,  thou,  nor  thy  son,  nor  thy  daughter, 
thy  man  servant  nor  thy  maid  servant,  nor  thy  cat- 
tle, nor  the  stranger  that  is  within  thy  gates;  for  in 
six  days  the  Lord  made  heaven  and  earth,  the  sea, 
and  all  that  in  them  is,  and  rested  the  seventh  day; 
wherefore  the  Lord  blessed  the  Sabbath  day  and  hal- 
lowed it.  o 

Q,  63.  What  is  required  in  the  fourth  command- 
ment? 

A.  The  fourth  commandment  requireth  the  keep- 
ing holy  to  God  one  whole  day  in  seven  to  be  a  Sab- 
bath to  himselfi? 

0,64.  Which  day  of  ihe  seven  hath  God  appointed 
to  be  the  weekly  sabbath  ? 

A.  Before  the  resurrection  of  Christ,  God  appoint- 
ed the  seventh  day  of  the  wrr  k  to  be  the  weekly  sab- 
bath, q  and  the  first  day  of  the  week  ever  since,  to 
continue  to  the  end  of  the  world,  which  is  the  christian 
sabbath,  r 

Q,  65.  How  is  the  sabbath  to  be  sanctified  ? 

A.  The  sabbath  is  to  be  sanctified  by  a  holy  resting 
all  that  day,  even  from  such  worldy  employments  and 
recreation  as  are  lawful  on  other  days,*  and  spending 
the  whole  time  to  the  public  and  private  exercise  of 
God's  worship,*  except  so  much  as  is  to  betaken  up  in 
the  works  of  necessity  and  mercy.** 

Q,  66.  What  is  forbidden  in  the  fourth  command- 
ment ? 


o  Exoxx8,  9,  10,  11     ;>Levxix30     Dent  v    12     q  Exo 
31.15     r  John  20.  19     Acts  xx  7     1  Cor  xvi  1,  2     Rev  i  10 
*  Lev  xxii  3     lsa  58.  13     t  Psa  xcii  Isa  46.  23     u  Matthew 
ii  11,  12 


15 


A.  The  fourth  commandment  forbiddelh  the  omis- 
sion or  careless  performance  of  the  duties  required, w 
and  the  profaning  the  day  by  idleness. x  or  doing  that 
wich  is  in  itself  sinful. A  or  by  unnecessary  thoughts. 
words,  or  works,  about  worldly  employments  or  re- 
recreations.  ^ 

Q.  67.  What  are  the  reasons  annexed  to  the  fourth 
commandment  ? 

A.  The  reasons  annexed  to  the  fourth  command- 
ment are.  God's  allowing  us  six  days  of  the  week  for 
our  own  lawful  employments, a  his  challenging  a  spe- 
cial propriety  in  the  seventh. £  his  own  example. e  and 
his  blessing  the  sabbath  day.fc 

Q,  6S.   Which  is  the  fifth  commandment  ? 

A.  The  nfih  commandment  is,  honour  thy  father 
and  thy  mother,  that  thy  days  may  be  long  upon  the 
land  which  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  ihee.e 

Q,  69.   What  is  required  in  the  fifth  commandment? 

A.  The  fifth  commandment  requireth  the  preserv- 
ing the  honour,  and  performing  the  duties  belonging 
to  every  one  in  their  several  places  and  relations,  as 
superiors./  inferiors..?  or  equals./* 

Q.  70.  What  is  forbidden  in  the  fifth  command- 
ment? 

A-  The  fifth  commandment  forbiddeth  the  neglect- 
ing oU  or  doing  any  thing  against  the  honor  or  duty 
which  belongeth  to  every  one  their  several  places  and 
relations.^ 

Q,  71.  What  is  the  reason  annexed  to  the  fifth  com- 
mandment ? 

A.  The  reason  annexed  to  the  fifih  commandment 
is,  a  promise  of  long  life  and  prosperity,    (so    far  as  it 

ic  Eze  xxii  26  x  Act  xx  9  y  Eze  xxiii  33  c  :Xeh  xiii 
15,  17  Amos  viii  5  a  Exo  xxxiv  '21  I  Exo  xxxv  2  c  Exo 
xxxi  16,  17  d  Gen  ii  3  c  Exoxx  12  /l  Peter  ii  17  Rom 
xiu  1  g-Ephv21,  22  Eph  vi  1,5,9  Col  iii  19  A  Rom 
xi  10  i  Dent  xxi  IS,  19,  20,  21  Proxxxl7  k  Rom  xii 
7,8 


16 


shall  serve  far   God's  glory,  and  their  own  good  to  alt 
such  as  keep  this  commandment^ 

Q,  72.  Which  is  this  sixth  commandment? 

A.  The  sixth  commandment  is,  Thou  shalt  net 
kill.* 

O  73.  What  is  required  in  the  sixth  command- 
ment? 

A.  The  sixth  commandment  reqiiiretfa  all  lawful 
endeavours  to  preserve  our  own  life,*  and  the  life  of 
others.^ 

Q.  74.  What  is  forbidden  in  the  sixth  command 
ment  % 

A.  The  sixth  commandment  absolutely  forbidde'h 
:he  taking  away  our  own  life.^  or  the  life  of  our  neigh- 
bour unjustly,  or  whatsoever  tendeth  thereto.*/ 

0,75,  Which  is  the  seventh  commandment? 

A  The  seventh  commandment  is,  Thou  shalt  not- 
commit  adultery.r 

Q,  7<3.  Wrhat  is  required  in  the  seventh  command- 
ment ? 

A.  The  seventh  commandment  rrqwretfa  the  pre- 
servation of  our  own,«  and  our  neighbours  chastity, 
f  in  heart,"  speech, u>  and  behaviour.* 

Q,  77.  What  is  forbidden  in- the  seventh  command- 
ment ? 

A.  The  seventh   commandment,   forbiddeth  all  un 
chaste  thoughts,?/  words,z  and  actions.^ 

Q  73.  Which  is  the  eight  commandment? 

A.  The  eighth  commandment  is,  Thou  shalt  not 
steals 

0,79.  What  is  required  in  the  eight  command- 
ment % 

A.  The  eighth  commandment  requireth  the   lawful 

/  Eph  vi  2 ,  3  m  Exo  xx  13  n  Eph  x  28,  29  Job  ii  4  o 
Psa!xxxii3,  4  Prov  xxiv  11  p  Acts  xvi  28  qGea  ix  6 
r  Exo  xx  14  s  1  Cor  vii  2  t\  Cor  vl  18  u  2  T;m  ii  22 
Mat  v  28  w  Col  iv  6  x  1  Peter  i;i  2  y  Job  xxx  1  z  Eph. 
v  4     a  Rom  xr;i  13     Eph  v  3     h  Exo  xx  15 


procuring  and  furthering  the  wealth  and  outward  es- 
ate  of  ourselves  c  and  others. d 

Q,  80.  What  is  forbidden  in  the  eighth  command- 
menl? 

A.  The  eighth  comandment  forbiddelh  -whatso- 
ever doth  or  may  unjustly  hinder  our  own  e  or  our 
neighbour's  wealth  or  outward  estale.y 

Q,  81.  Which  is  the  ninth  commandment? 

A.  The  ninth  commandment  is,  Thou  shalt  not 
bear  false  witness  against  thy  neighbour.^ 

Q,  82.  What  is  required  in  the  ninth  command- 
ment  ? 

A.  The  ninth  commandment  requireth  the  main- 
taining and  promoting  of  truth  between  man  and 
man  ',h  and  of  our  owni  and  our  neighbour's  good 
name, A;  especially  in  witness  bearing .1 

Q,.  83.  Wrhat  is  forbidden  in  the  ninth  command- 
ment? 

A.  The  ninth  commandment  forbiddeth  whatso- 
ever is  prejudicial  to  truths  or  injurious  to  our  own, 
u  or  our  neighbour's  good  name.o 

Q,  84.   Which  is  the  tenth  commandment  1 

A.  The  tenth  commandment  is,  Thou  shalt  not 
covet  thy  neighbour's  house,  thou  shalt  not  covet  tby 
neighbour's  wife,  nor  his  man  servant,  nor  his  maid 
servant,  nor  his  ox,  nor  his  ass,  nor  any  thing  that 
is  thy  neighbour's.^ 

Q,  85.  What  is  required  in  the  tenth  command, 
ment? 

A.  The  tenth  commandment  requireth  a  full  con- 
tentment with  our  own  condition,^  with  a  right  and 

c  Gen  xxx  36  Prov  xxvii  23  d  Lev  xxv  35  Deut  xxii  1, 
3,  4  el  Timv  8  Prov  xxviii  19  /Prov  xxiii  20,  21  Eph 
iv  28  g  Exo  xx  1 6  h  Zach  viii  16  i  Eccl  vii  1  k  3  John 
12  I  Prov  xiv  25  m  Eph  iv  25  n  Prov  x  7  ch  22  o  Ps* 
xv  3    p  Exo  xx  1 7     q  Heb  xiii  5     i  Tim  vi  6 


18 


charitable  frame  of  spirit  towards  our  neighbour  and 
all  that  is  his.r 

Q,  86.  What  is  forbidden  in  the  tenth  command- 
ment ? 

A.  The  tenth  commandment  forbiddeth  all  dis- 
contentment with  our  own  estate, s  envying  or  griev- 
ing at  the  good  of  our  neighbour,*  and  all  inordinate 
motions  and  affections  to  any  thing  that  is  his.u 

Q,  87.  Is  any  man  able  perfectly  to  keep  the 
ccmmmandments  of  God  ? 

A.  No  mere  man  since  the  fall,  is  able  in  this  life 
perfectly  to  keep  the  commandments  of  God,2o  but 
doth  daily  break  them,  in~th6ught,g  word,?/  or  deed.z 

Q,  88.  Are  all  the  transgressions  of  the  law  equal- 
ly heinous  ? 

A.  Some  sins  in  themselves,  and  by  reason  of  sev- 
eral aggravations,  are  more  heinous  in  the  sight  of 
God  than  others. a 

Q,  89.  What  doth  every  sin  deserve  1 

A.  Every  sin  deserveth  God's  wrath  and  curse, 
both  in  this  life  and  that  which  is  to  come. b 

Q,  90.  What  doth  God  require  of  us,  that  we  may 
escape  his  wrath  and  curse  due  to  us  for  sin  ? 

A.  To  escape  the  wrath  and  curse  of  God,  due  to 
us  for  sin,  God  requireth  of  us  faith  in  Jesus  Christ, c 
repentance  unto  life, d  with  the  dilligent  use  of  all 
the  outward  means  whereby  Christ  communicateth 
to  us  the  benefits  of  redemption, c 

Q,  91.   What  is  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  ? 

A.     Faith   in  Jesus    Christ  is    a   saving    grace.^/' 

.  r  72om  xii  15  1  Cor  xiii  4,  7  si  Cor  x  1U  t  Mat  xx  15 
James  v  9  ul  Kiugs  xxi  4  Col  hi  5  u>  Eccl  vii  20  1 
John  i  8  x  Gen  vi  5  y  James  iii  8  z  James  iii  2  a  Eze 
viii  13  John  xix  11  1  John  v  16  b  Eph  v  6  Prov  iii  33 
Psa  xi  6  Rev  xxi  8  c  Acts  xvi  HO  31  d  Acts  xvii  30  t 
frov  ii  3.  A,  5     Prov  viii  34,  35    / 11?  x  ID 


1$ 


v  hereby  we  receive,""  and  rest  upon  liim  alone    for 
salvation  as  he  is   revealed    to   u.s,    in   the    gospel, h 

Q.  92  What  is  repentance  unto  life  ? 

A.  Repentance  unto  life  is  a  saving  graces'  where- 
by a  sinner,  out  of  a  true  sense  of  his  sins, A*  and 
apptehension  of  the  mercy  of  God,  in  Christ, I  doth 
with  grief  and  hatred  of  his  sin,  turn  from  it  unto 
God,?/i  with  full  purpose  of,  and  endeavor  after  new 
obedience. 7i 

Q,  93.  What  are  the  outward  means  whereby 
Christ  communicateth  to  us  the  benefits  of  redemp- 
tion ? 

A.  T  e  outward  and  ordinary  means  whereby 
Christ  communicateth  to  us  the  benefits  of  redemp- 
tion, are  his  ordinances,  especially  the  word  baptism, 
the  Lord's  supper  and  prayer  ;  all  which  means  are 
made  effectual  to  the  elect  fc'r    salvation.o 

Q.  94  How  is  the  word  made  effectual  to  salvation  ? 

A.  The  spirit  of  God  maketh  the  reading.^  but 
especially  the  preaching  of  the  word,  an  effectual 
means  of  convincing  and  converting  sinners,^  and 
of  building  them  up  in  holiness  and  comfort, r 
through  faith  unto  salvation-.* 

Q,  95.  How  is  the  word  to  be  read  and  heard, 
that  it  may  become  effectual  to  salvatii  n  ? 

A.  That  the  word  may  become  effectual  to  salva- 
tion,  we  must  attend  thereunto  with  diligence,*  pre- 
paration,;/ and  prayer,ic  receive  it  with  faith,.r  and 
love,?/  lay  it  up  in  our  hearts*:  and  practise  it  in  our 
lives. a 

g  John  i  12  h  Phi,  iii  9  i  Acts  xi  18  k  Acts  ii  27  I 
Joel  ii  13  m  Jer  xxxi  18,  19  n  Psa  cxix  59,60  o  Acts  ii 
41,42  Psxciil3,.14  p  Xeh  viii  8  Psa  xix  7  q  Psa  Ii  13 
Rovn  x  14,  17  HActsxx32  1  Cor  xiv  3  s  Rom  i  1G  t 
J  Tim  iv  13  Hcb  ii  1  u  1  Peter  ii  1,  2  ?c  Psa  exxix  18  x 
H-h  iv  2     //  2  Tiios  ii  .1  G     r  Psa  cxix  I  1       a  James?  i  25. 


20 


96.  How  do  baptism  and  the  Lord's  supper 
become  effectual  means  of  salvation  1 

A.  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  supper,  become 
effectual  means  of  salvation,  not  from  any  vir- 
tue in  them,  or  in  bim  that  doth  administer  them,& 
but  only  by  the  blessing  of  Christ.c  and  the  working 
of  his  spirit,  in  those  who  by  faith  receive  them. d 

Q  97.  What  is  baptism  ? 

A.  Baptism  is  an  oidinance  of  the  New-Testa- 
fient,  instituted  by  Jesus  Christ,^  to  be  unto  the 
party  baptized  a  sign  of  his  fellowship  with  him  in 
his  death,  and  burial,  and  ressurection.fof  his  being 
ingrafted  into  h\m,g  of  remission  of  sins, 7*  and  of 
his  giving  up  himself  unto  God,  through  Jesus  Christ 
to  live  and  walk  in  newness  of  Vtte.i 

Q,  98.  To  whom  is  baptism    to   be   administered  ? 

A-  Baptism  is  to  be  administered  to  all  those  who 
actually  profess  repentance  towards  Qod,k  faith  in, 
and  obedience  to  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  and  to  none 
other./ 

Q,  99.  Are  the  infants  of  sach  as  are  professing 
believers  to  be  baptized  T 

A.  We  think  infants  of  such  as  are  professing 
believers  are  not  to  be  baptized  ;  because  there  is 
neither  command  nor  example  in  the  holy  scriptures 
or  certain  consequence  from  them,  to  baptize  such.m 

Q,  100  How  is  baptism  rightly  administered  ? 

A.  Baptism  is  rightly  administered  by  immer- 
sion, or  dipping  the  whole  body  of  the  party  in  wa- 
ter,w  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  (he  Son,  and 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,    according   to    Christ's    institu- 

b  1  Cor  in  7  1  Peter  Hi  21  c  1  Cor  iii  6  d  1  Cor  12.  13 
e  Mat  28.  19  /  Rom  vi  3  Col  ii  12  g  Gal  iii  27  h  Mark 
i  4  Acts  22  16,  i  Rom  vi  4,  5  k  Acts  ii  38  Mat  iii  6  I 
Mark  16.  16  Acts  viii  12,  36,37,  and  10.  47,  48  m  Exo23. 
13   Frov  30.  6     Luke  iii  7,  8     n  Mat  iii  16     John  iii  23 


tion.c  and  the  practice  of  the  apostles,;?  and  not  by 
sprinkling  or  pouring  of  water,  or  dipping  some  parts 
of  the  body,  after  the  tradition  of  men.<7 

Q,  101.  What  is  the  duty  of  those  who  are  rightly 
baptized  ? 

A.  It  is  the  duty  of  those  who  are  rightly  baptiz- 
ed, to  give  up  themselves  to  some  particular  and  or- 
derly church  of  Jesus  Christ,  that  they  may  walk  in 
all  the  commandments  and  ordinances  of  the  Lord 
blameless,  s 

Q,  102.   What  is  the  Lord's  supper  ? 

A.  The  Lord's  supper  is  an  ordinance  of  the  New 
Testament,  instituted  by  Jesus  Christ,  wherein  by 
giving  and  receiving  bread  and  wine,  according  to 
his  appointment,  his  death  is  shewed  forth,!?  and  the 
worthy  receivers  are,  not  after  a  corporal  and  carnal 
manner,  but  by  faith  made  partakes  of  his  body  and 
blood,  with  all  his  benefits,  to  their  spiritual  nourish- 
ment, and  growth  in  grace. u 

Q,  103.  Who  are  the  proper  subjects  of  this  ordi- 
nance ? 

A.  Godly  persons  who  have  been  baptized  upon  a 
personal  profession  of  their  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  and 
repentance  from  dead  works. w 

Q,  104.  what  is  required  to  tbe  worthy  receiving 
of  the  Lord's  Supper? 

A.  It  is  required  of  them  that  would  worthily 
partake  of  the  Lord's  supper,  that  they  examine 
themselves  of  their  knowledge  to  discern  the  Lord's 
body,£  of  their  fath  to  feed  upon  him.y  of  their  re- 
pentance,:: love,a  and  new  obedience  \b  lest  coming 


o  Mat  xxviii  19,  20  p  John  iv  1,  2  q  Acts  viii  38,  39  r 
Acts  ii  47  Acts  ix  26  si  Peter  ii  5  Luke  i  6  t  1  Cor  ix 
23—26  «  1  Corx  16  w  Acts  ii  41,  42  x  I  Cor  xi  28  y 
2Corx'!if5.   c  1  Cor  xi  31      a  1    Cor    18,  20        MCorv8 


unworthily,  they  eat  and  drink  judgment  to  them-* 
selves,  r 

Q.  105  What  is  prayer  7 

A.  Prayer  is  an  offering  up  our  desires  to  God;d 
by  the  assistance  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  for  things  a- 
gfreeable  to  his  wilj.f  in  the  name  of  Christ.^  be- 
lieving, 7? with  confession  of  our  sins,i  and  thankful 
acknowledgement  of  his  mercies. A; 

Q,  106.  What  rule  hath  God  given  for  our  di* 
rection  in  prayer  ? 

A.  The  whole  word  of  God  is  of  use  to  direct  us 
in  prayer./ but  the  special  rule  of  direction  is  that 
praver,  which  Christ  taught  his  disciples,  commonly 
called.  The  Lord's  prayer.?/? 

Q,  107.  What  doth  the  preface  to  the  Lords's  pray^ 
or  teach  us  1 

A.  The  preface  of  the  Lord's  prayer,  which  is  our 
Father  who  art  in  Heavcn,n  teacheth  us  to  draw 
near  to  God,  with  all  holy  reverence  and  confidence 
as  children  to  a  father  able  and  ready  to  help  us,o 
and  that  we  should  pray  with  and  for   others.7) 

Q   108.    What  do  we  pray  for  in  the  first  petition? 

A.  In  the  first  petition,  which  is,  hallowed  be  thy 
name,q  we  pray  that  God  would  enable  us  and  oth- 
o>-s  to  glorify  him  in  all  that  whereby  he  maketh 
himself  known,?-  and  that  he  would  dispose  all  things 
to  his  own  glory 

Q,  109.  What  do  we  pray  for  in  the  seeOnd  peii- 
tion  / 

A.  In  the  second    petition,  which  is,  thy  kingdom 

r  1  Cor  xi  29  d  Psa  lxii  8  c  Rom  viii  26  /"Rom  viii  27 
g  John  xvi  23  //  Mat  xxi  22  i  Daniel  ix  4  '  1c  Phil  iv  6  / 
Lrike  xi  I  2  Tim  iii  16,  17  1  John  v  ]  t  m  'Mat  vi  9  n 
Mat  vi  9  p  Rom  viii  15  Mat  vii  11  Isa  xxiv  8  p  Acts 
xii  :.  1  Tim  ii  1.  2  v  Mat  vi  9  r  Psa  Ixvii  1..  2  s  Pealm 
Ixxxiii  1 8     Rom  xi  '.)('>. 


23 


conic' t  we  pray  that  salad's  kingdom  may  l>e  destroy- 
ed,?;  and  that  the  kingdom  of  grace  may  be  advan- 
ced, 10  ourselves  and  others'  brought  into  it  and 
kept  in  itvr  and  that  the  kingdom  of  glory  may 
be  hastened.y 

Q.  110.  What  do  we  pray  for  in  the  third  peti- 
tion 2 

A.  In  the  third  petition,  which  is,  thy  will  be 
done  on  earth  as  it  is  heaven,z  we  pray  that  God 
by  his  grace,  would  make  us  able  and  willing  to 
know,  obey,a  and  submit  to  his  will  in  all  things,^ 
as  the  angels  do  in  heaven. c 

A  111.  What  do  we  pray  for  in  the  fourth  peti- 
tion ? 

A.  In  the  fourth  petition,  which  is,  give  us  this 
day  our  daily  bread.d  we  pray,  that  of  God's  free 
gift,  we  may  receive  a  competent  portion  of  the 
good  things  of  this  li(e,e  and  enjoying  hU  blessing 
with  them.f 

Q,  112.  What  do  we  pray  for  in  the  fifth  petition  ? 

A.  In  the  fifth  petition,  which  is,  and  forgive  us 
our  debts,  as  we  forgive  our  debtors,g  we  pray  that 
God  for  Christ's  sake  would  freely  pardon  all  our 
sins  \h  which  we  are  the  rather  encouraged  to  ask, 
because  by  his  grace  we  are  enabled  from  the  heart 
to  forgive  others. i 

Q,  113,  What  do  we  pray  for  in  the  sixth  petition  ? 

A.  In  the  sixth  petition,  which  is,  and  lead  us 
not  into  temptation,  but  deliver  us  from  evil.k  we 
pray,  that  God  would    either   keep    us  from    being 

t  Mat  vi  10  *  u  Psa  Ixviii  1,  18  u>  Psa  li  18  Rom  x  2  x 
2  Thes  iii  1  John  xvii  20,  21  y  Rev  xxii  20  z  Mat  vi  10 
<&  Psa  cxix  34,  36  d  Luke  xx  42  Acts  xxi  14  c  Psa  ciii 
20,21  J  Mat  vi  11  e  Prov  xxx  8  /Exoxxiii25  1  Tim 
iv  4,  5  g  Mat  vi  12  k  Pta  li  1,  2,  7  i  Mat  vi  14  Luke  xi 
4     k  Mat  vi  13 


24 


temptation  to  sin,Z  or  support  and  deliver  us  when 
we  are  tempted.^ 

Q,  114.  What  doth  the  conclusion  of  the  Lord's 
prayer  teach  us  1 

A.  The  conclusion  of  the  Lord's  prayer,  which 
is,  for  thine  is  the  kingdom,  and  the  power,  and  the 
glory  forever,  Amen,n  teacheth  us  to  take  our  en- 
couragement in  prayer  Iron  God  only,o  and  in  our 
prayers  to  praise  him,  ascribing  kingdom,  power  and 
glory  to  him  ;p  and  in  testimony  of  our  desire  and 
assurance  to  be  heard  we  say,  Amen.q 

I  Mat  xxv  i  41  Psaxixl3  m  2  Cor  xii  7,  8  1  Cor  x  13 
n  Mat  vi  13  o  Daniel  ix  4,  9,  18,  19  pi  Chr  xxix  11  23 
q  Cor  xiv  IS     Rey  xi  20 


FINIS. 


jp** 


